In last week’s edition of the Guardian News we told the story of Macksville-born and bred Anzac Victor Henry Vernon Gossip of the third Tunnelling Company.

Since last week another local ‘tunneller’ has become known to the Guardian News.

Thomas Henry Smith served in the 1st Australian Tunneling Company, which is the focus of the Australian-made, feature film.

Born in 1888 in the Parish of Merrileigh Bowraville, ‘Harry’ Smith (as he was known), worked as a labourer and road-maker prior to enlisting with the Australian Imperial Forces on February 13, 1916.

At the age of 27 years and nine months, Harry set sail on the Star of Victoria bound for England, and infamy.

Whilst in France, Harry suffered a bout of the mumps, but a speedy recovery saw him back under the front line after a month in a French hospital.

In early 1917 Harry was admitted to a British war hospital with ‘trench fever’, but soon returned to service on June 19, 1917.

A fighter Harry was, he survived being gassed twice in 1918, the second time meant that Harry got to return home to Australia via the safe passage of the Boonah.

His final medical record prior to his discharge read…

“Fit – No Disability, Progress – Fit Heart and Lungs.

Harry went on to have 15 children, nine girls and six boys, Ron Smith of Bonville being one of his sons.

Ron said that after the war, his father never spoke of it nor did he attend marches or Anzac Day ceremonies.

One memory he can recount was of a play area in the family’s backyard.

“We had a grassy mound out near the clothesline that as kids we would play on,” Ron said.

“Dad used to call it Hill 60 and we never knew what that meant.”