The latest recruits to take their departure for one of the military training camps were Messrs W. Cormack, Gideon Smith, and J. F. Leydon on Wednesday last. A large number of citizens assembled to say farewell and as the motor coach was leaving the recruits were lustily cheered. -Mt Benger Mail, 12/4/1916.
Privates H. Cormack and Lloyd Rankin, who have been spending a few days in Roxburgh on final leave, took their departure for camp on Monday morning. Private Gideon Smith, who has also been down on final leave, returned on Saturday morning. -Mt Benger Mail, 28/6/1916.
Official advice was received by Mr Robert M. Smith, Coal Creek, last week, that his eldest son Private Gideon Smith was killed in action in France on March 24th. Private Gideon Smith, who left New Zealand with the 15th Reinforcements, was a native of Roxburgh, where he lived until the family removed to Coal Creek some years ago. The deceased soldier took an active part in Lodge affairs occupying the position of First Chief Ranger of the Forresters' Lodge, Court Roxburgh, and in former years was well known in local Rugby circles, being a member of the Coal Creek fifteen. The heartfelt sympathy of a very large circle of friends is extended to the family in their irreparable loss. -Mt Benger Mail, 11/4/1917.
Obituary. — We regret to learn of the death of Private Gideon Smith, eldest son of Mr Robert Smith, of Coal Creek Flat, was killed in action in France shortly alter arrival. Ho died for his country and liberty. -Otago Witness, 25/6/1917.
Many would regret to hear of the death of Gideon Smith (son of our esteemed resident, Mr R. M. Smith) who lost his life fighting for the Empire. The war is raging bitterly, and we may well ask when will the end come? -Mt Benger Mail, 9/5/1917.
Robert Smith was working as a gold miner on the Ladysmith claim, between Roxburgh cemetery and the Clutha river, when he enlisted. He was serving with "A" Company, 1st Battalion of the NZ Rifle Brigade when he was killed on October 5th, 1918.
"In the meantime the 1st Battalion, in the centre, and the 3rd, on the left, had joined in the thrust forward. Under cover of patrols sent out by "A" Company, 1st Battalion, then on the forward edge of the village, two platoons of "D" Company advanced to attack a strong enemy position about the Old Mill of Lesdain, some 300 yards to the east. This was on a page 402slight eminence with a double escarpment, the first of which was successfully taken and held. Attempts were made to blind the position with smoke bombs, but it proved impossible to reduce materially the steady machine-gun fire, and the advance here was definitely hung up. The two platoons suffered 30 casualties. An attempt was now made to secure Lesdain, a village on the other side of the Escaut River to the south-east, with its nearer outskirts not more than 700 yards from those of Crevecoeur. For this task "A" Company was detailed. One platoon, under 2nd Lieut. W. Williams, worked down a small valley leading to Lesdain and took up a covering position. Two platoons then followed and were making ready to deploy for the rush forward through them, when a wounded runner crawled back with a message that 2nd Lieut. Williams and several of his men had been killed, and that the remainder were unable to move in any direction owing to the intense machine-gun fire which had suddenly opened up from the high ground to their right. Investigation showed that the platoons intended for attack could now do nothing but cover the retirement of their comrades, and even this latter operation could not be completed until after dark. -Official History of the NZ Rifle Brigade.
FOR THE EMPIRE'S CAUSE
SMITH. — On October 5, killed in action in France, Sergeant Robert Marshall Smith (17th Reinforcements), beloved husband of Olive Smith, and second son of Robert I Marshall and the late Anne Smith, Coal Creek Flat; aged 30 years. -Otago Daily Times, 31/10/1918.
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