Frank Smith was born in Donald, Victoria, was single and a State school teacher living in Gillies Street, Ballarat when he enlisted with the 21st Battalion, 16th Reinforcement on 27 May 1916 at the age of 28. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A71 Nestor on 2 October 1916. He joined the 21st Reinforcements and proceeded overseas to France per the Victoria in February 1917. He was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to the right foot on 5 October 1917 and was transported to England aboard the Hospital Ship Princess Elizabeth. By March 1918 he had recovered and proceeded overseas to France again to re-join his unit.

Other than the unfortunate instance of allowing a prisoner to escape, for which he was awarded 28 days' pay penalty and a brief fight with pneumonia, the remainder of his service was without major incident. He returned to Australia 19 April 1919.
Tree No. 1343