Leo Thomas Smedley
Stephen LearmonthLeo Thomas Smedley was born in January 1896 in Corryong to William and Phillipa Constance, nee Evans, Smedley. He was the eldest of seven children in the family.
Leo enlisted on February 2 1916, at Bathurst, NSW. He was allocated the Service Number 1994A and placed into the 34th Infantry Battalion. On June 25, he boarded HMAT A37 Barambah at Sydney. Two months to the date, he disembarked at Plymouth, England, and was taken on strength with the 53rd Battalion.
The battalion moved to France in late November 1916. Leo had fortunately missed out on the disastrous attack by the 53rd at the Battle of Fromelles in July of that year. Of the approximately 1,000 men who participated in the attack, 625 had become casualties in just a few days. Leo arrived at the front to experience the coldest winter the region had experienced in many years. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on January 7, 1917.
In March 1917, the battalion was part of the Allied advance that followed up the German withdrawal from the Somme to the Hindenburg Line. Leo received a gunshot wound to the eye and was evacuated to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. By the end of March, he had rejoined his unit. On April 20, he was admitted to the 10th Australian Field Ambulance with a foreign object in his right eye. Leo would be wounded in action two more times. The second occurred on July 7, while the third happened on October 18 1917. The latter, a fracture of the scalp, was serious enough to have him evacuated back to England. On November 16, he was sufficiently healed to be given a two-week furlough.
He rejoined the battalion in France on February 23, 1918. On March 5, he was promoted to Lance Sergeant. Back in the field, Leo’s battalion participated in fighting around the Morlancourt region. After this offensive, he was recommended for the Military Medal.
The citation for his Military Medal reads as such:
“For gallantry and devotion to duty during attack on enemy position in the vicinity of MORLANCOURT near ALBERT on the night of May 5/6, 1918.
An enemy machine gun temporarily held up the advance. He rushed the post, bayonetted the crew, and captured the gun. At the second objective he was the first man of his platoon into the trench, and silenced a bombing post, killing two and capturing two of the enemy.
His courage was an inspiring example to his men.”
In late June, he was told to join an Officer Cadet Training Battalion before being promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. In early January 1919, he was placed on probation as a 2nd Lieutenant. Leo spent February and March 1919 with the 34th Battalion in France before returning to England. He returned to Australia on HMAT A30 Borda and was discharged from the AIF on August 14 1919.
The local community held a welcome-home evening for Leo on August 27 1919. It was reported in the September 11 1919, edition of the Corryong Courier.
“Berrigama
FROM A CORRESPONDENT
On Wednesday evening, August 27th, a welcome home was tendered to Lieutenant Leo Smedley in the public hall. Owing to sad bereavements and the influenza, the hall was not so full as usual, but there was a representative gathering. Lieutenant Smedley had been away for over four years and had risen from the ranks by sheer merit. He connected with the Scout Corps and won the Military Medal. Mr J.F. Boyd welcomed him in a suitable speech and was supported by Mr Coghill. Lieutenant Smedley seemed very pleased with his reception and thanked them all for their kindness. He did not expect a welcome as he had enlisted in Sydney. Lieutenant Smedley completed his course at Oxford University.”
On May 27 1920, Leo married Ann “Annie” Elizabeth Staniforth at Parramatta, NSW. Tragedy would strike the newlywed couple when their firstborn child, Peter Anzac Smedley, died at the age of 4 days on April 29 1921. Leo and Ann would go on to have seven more children
In 1930, Leo and his family were living at 149 Old Windsor Road, Wentworthville. He was working as a linesman. By 1963, Leo had retired, and he and Anne were now living at 49 North Rocks Road at Castle Hill. Leo passed away on July 21 1971, at Parramatta, NSW. Ann died in 1988.
