Wombarra's Victor Smith was only 20 years old when he reported for compulsory military service in 1939.
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Only four months later, he was killed in a tragic motorcycle accident while carrying despatches to Ingleburn Military Camp.
His motorcycle hit an unmarked roadworks barrier on Moorebank Road on April 9, 1940.
Victor was the first Illawarra soldier to die during World War II, as president of the Black Diamond Heritage Centre, Kerrie Anne Christian, discovered earlier this year.
Members of his family gathered on Thursday at Scarborough’s seaside cemetery to commemorate the 75th anniversary of his death.
Vicki Owers was named after her uncle, the fallen soldier, but knew very little of his story until recently.
‘‘We just had no idea. His story wasn’t talked about a lot at home,’’ Ms Owers said.
After realising the circumstances of Victor’s death in January, Ms Christian immediately began the search for any remaining family. It was quite a surprise when she realised she had found the details of her old family friend, Vicki Owers.
‘‘It was quite a shock to realise this this soldier was a relative of someone I know,’’ she said.
She said it was especially important to remember the sacrifice of young men like Victor, who might have lost their place on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour because of technicalities.
‘‘It’s nice to remember those who don’t always fit the rules,’’ Ms Christian said.