The Soldier's Details

Studio portrait of WX9143 Driver (Dvr) Montague (Monty) Joseph Smith, 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion. Dvr Smith enlisted on 30 October 1940, was taken prisoner of war in Malaya and interned at Moulmein, Burma (current day Myanmar). During his captivity he became ill and, as a result, died on 13 November 1943. He is buried in the Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Myanmar.

 

 

Monty Smith enlisted AIF Oct 1940, later joining 2/4th MGB ‘C’ Company No. 12 Platoon as a Driver.

Robert Lush confirms he was with Monty and Arthur Gamble in the same gun pit on the south west coast of Singapore with ‘C’ Company.  He couldn’t remember the fourth team member who was the driver.  They didn’t see any real action, but could certainly hear the fighting.  When the Indians began running the 2/4th were given the word to leave also.

Please read further about C Coy No. 12 Platoon

Soldier died 0900 hours on 13/11/1943 at Tanbaya Hospital Camp, Burma.   Funeral service conducted by Capt. F. J. Cahill from 2/9th Field Ambulance on 15.11.1943. Soldier was actually buried on 13.11.1943.

 

 

 

‘Monty’ Smith was one of 4 men from Muckinbudin to join the 2/4th.  The three others all born in England, had migrated to Australia and all played soccer in the same competition.  Joe Sevier (died 1945 Ranau-Sandakan track), Dudley Squire (KIA 12th February 1942) and Reg ‘Buck’ Rogers.  Rogers was the only one to survive.

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His mother Lily Toleman was born May 1894 in Lake Boga, Victoria. His parents  married 27 Aug 1913 Perth WA.

‘Monty’ attended Victoria Park Primary School before his family moved to Koorda.  Later, in 1926 they took up a farm in a new settlement near Lake Brown in the Muckinbudin district.  It was here ‘Monty’ completed his education by correspondence.

He was from a large family and his mother Lilian was left on her own to run the farm.  ‘Monty’ and siblings had little time for outside interests and worked hard.  He did play football and cricket however not regularly as a district team member.

‘Monty’s’ mother who was known as ‘Mrs. L.M.’ was highly respected.  She was the only woman from the area to be called to a 1933 Royal Commission into the Agricultural Bank.

Below: The Front cover of Government’s Royal Commission 1933.

Below:  Mrs L.M. Smith and either Monty or his father listed.

Read story of Boys from Mukinbudin

Unfortunately, we know little else of Monty’s life and  Smith family.  Lily Monica died Mt Lawley in 15 May 1982 aged 88 years.  His father born in 1885, died in Perth 6 Sep 1955. He is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth WA.

 

 

 

The Erickson family are known to both Monty Smith and Dudley Squire from  2/4th.

 

Smith was selected to work on the Burma Thai Railway with ‘F’ Force Thailand.  Please read further about this force.

There are no official records to confirm where Smith went with F Force, the Camps mentioned are those which ‘F’ Force worked.

The sick from ‘F’Force were evacuated to Tanbaya Hospital Camp in Burma.

Hence the reason Monty Smith is buried Thanbyzuyat War Cemetery, Burma.