Austin Clifford Smith was born at Greenhill, Eastmoor close to Wakefield on the 26th of October 1891. He was one of 10 having 4 brothers and 5 sisters. His mother died in 1900 and his father worked in the pits for 30 years ending up as a manager.

Austin Smith enlisted in 1915 at the age of 24.One of his first duties as part of the Royal Naval Division was as a pallbearer for Captain Warneford VC on the 23/06/1915. Warneford specialised in downing Zeppelins and was in the Royal Flying Corps.