Memorial plaque : 2nd Lieutenant G H Henderson Smith, 11 Battalion AIF

Brass memorial plaque featuring an etched portrait of George Holt Henderson Smith. Engraved below is '2nd.Lieut.G.H.HENDERSON SMITH 11th.Battalion A.I.F. Killed in Action. Gallipoli. May 26th 1915'.

Associated with the service of 618 2nd Lieutenant George Holt Henderson Smith, born 17 May 1895 in Adelaide, SA. Henderson Smith was a 19 year old clerk when he enlisted as a private with 11 Battalion on 10 September 1914 at Helena Vale, WA. After just two weeks of preliminary training, Henderson Smith and his battalion sailed for Egypt aboard HMAT Ascanius on 2 November 1914. After further training in Egypt Henderson Smith embarked for the Gallipoli Peninsula and was among the first to land at Anzac Cove in the early hours of 25 April 1915. He was commissioned 2nd lieutenant on 5 May. Henderson Smith was killed in action on 25 May 1915 (not 26 May as indicated on the plaque) near Lone Pine, when he deliberately placed himself in an exposed position in the trenches in order to protect his men from Turkish fire. He is buried at Lone Pine Cemetery.