Private Malcolm St Aiden Teesdale Smith, 10th Battalion, AIF
Australian War MemorialPopularly known as known as “Mickie”, Malcolm Teesdale Smith was born in Devondale, Tasmania on 31 May 1890, the second son of Lydia and Henry Teesdale Smith. His father was a prominent engineering contractor who worked on public construction projects.
Malcolm spent much of his early life in Western Australia before moving with his family to South Australia. There his father was responsible for the construction of Adelaide’s tramway tracks, as well as other railway projects around the state.
Malcolm was educated at St Peter’s College and went on to work as an assistant engineer on some of his father’s projects, including the Minnipa Hill Railway construction. At the outbreak of war in 1914, he was engaged to Miss J Culross of Mount Lofty in the Adelaide Hills.
Smith enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force shortly after the outbreak of war. He was posted to the 10th Battalion and found himself in Number One Section of 1 Platoon, A Company, together with a number of schoolmates from St Peter’s College. They began training in Australia before leaving for service overseas in October aboard the troopship Ascanius. The battalion arrived in Egypt, where the men continued their military training.
In the early hours of 25 April 1915, the men of the 10th Battalion rowed silently towards the Turkish shore at what would become known as Anzac Cove. The war diary of the battalion recorded the journey:
“no sound was heard, except the splash of the oars; we thought that our landing was to be effected quite unopposed, but when our boats were within about 30 yards of the beach a rifle was fired from the hill in front of us above the beach, right in front of where we were heading for. Almost immediately heavy rifle and machine-gun fire was opened upon us.”
On reaching the shore the men made a dash for the heights above the beach.
Private Smith survived the first hectic hours on Gallipoli, despite being shot in the neck while still on the beach. He advanced into the heights with a few members of the 10th Battalion, and was reportedly with Private Arthur Blackburn as he reached some of the furthest positions inland. Two days later, Private Smith was hit for a second time as he went to assist a wounded comrade. He died almost immediately. He was 25 years old.
Malcolm Smith’s body was recovered from the front line, and today he lies in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery.
Dr Meleah Hampton, Historian, Military History Section
Image: Informal group portrait of nine members of the 10th Battalion, c.1914, all of whom enlisted in 1914, and embarked from Adelaide, SA, on 20 October 1914 aboard HMAT Ascanius and served at Gallipoli. Bottom right is Pte Malcolm St Aiden Teesdale Smith. Read more below.
- Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10687693
