Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021:
Kenneth McKinley Smorti was born in Sydney and in 1916, was living with his parents at ‘Fernleigh’ in Adderley Street, Auburn. The family were members of the St Philip’s Anglican Church.
In Smorti’s service file is a permission note from his parents saying: "Dear Sir, We hereby consent to my son Kenneth enlisting in the Australian Imperial (Expeditionary) Forces subject to medical fitness. Louis Smorti, Elizabeth Emily Smorti."
6792 Private Smorti enlisted on 18 July 1916, giving his age as 18 5/12 (hence the need for the permission note) and occupation as 'accountant'. Smorti was 19 when killed in action on 4 October 1917 in the Passchendaele offensive in Belgium. He was one of at least six Auburn Memorial men who died while still in their teens.
Smorti’s young age may explain why he was in training camps in Australia for four months and eight months in the United Kingdom before crossing to France and marching into the 4th Battalion on 19 August 1917. Smorti was killed less than two months later. His body was never found, therefore his name is inscribed on the Menin Gate, the British Monument to the Missing in the Belgian town of Ypres (now Ieper).
Smorti may have been a classical musician, as he took a violin with him when he embarked for service overseas on the Port Nicholson in November 1916. The violin, ‘complete in case’ was returned from London to his parents with his effects.
Kenneth Smorti is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- St Philip's Anglican Church Auburn First World War Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal 1914-20
- Victory Medal
