Name
John Smart
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/11/1914
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
7057
Northamptonshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 43 and 45.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth UDC Memorial St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Rickmansworth
Pre War
John Smart was born in 1882 in Earls Barton,
Northamptonshire, son of Alfred and Mary Smart. In 1891 the family was living
at 60 Hill Street, Wellingborough, where both parents were working in the shoe
industry. He had a younger sister, Alice, and younger brother, Albert. In 1903
he married Elizabeth Bullock at the Northampton Registry Office. In 1911 they
were living at 2 Fire Court Yard, High Street, Rickmansworth with 2 children,
Rosina and Albert. He was a general labourer.
Wartime Service
John Smart, born in Earls Barton, Northamptonshire,
attested for 6 years with the Northampton Regiment in 1898. His age was given
as 17 years 9 months, 5ft 3in, 105lb, fair complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair,
C of E. His current employer was Mr Thompson and he was working as a shoe
finisher. A gratuity of £5 was paid in 1902 for service in the South African
War.
At the start of World War 1, he enlisted in Northampton
and entered France on 23rd August 1914.He was killed in action.
The War Diaries for the 1st Battalion of the
Northamptonshire regiment state that on October 25th 1914 they marched to Ypres
in reserve. From October 3rd to November 15th ‘the regiment was heavily engaged
most of the time’ and that ‘on November 14th there were only two officers left
and about 300 men.’
His brother, Private Albert Frederick Smart, was killed
in action in the same battalion on the previous day and is also commemorated on
the Rickmansworth memorials.
John’s effects of £5 15s 1d and a war gratuity of £5 was
paid to his widow, Elizabeth.
From the Northampton Mercury, Friday 18th December 1914.
The brothers Smart of the 1st Northants Regiment, were
born in Earls Barton. Albert has been officially reported killed in October,
and John has been unofficially reported Killed about the same time. They were
the nephew of Mr W Brawn of Earls Barton Old Silver Band and of Wellingborough
Temperance Silver Band, and many of their relatives live at Earls Barton and
Wellingborough.
Additional Information
Brother of Private Albert Frederick Smart who was killed in action in the same battalion on the previous day on 2 Nov 1914 also in Ypres and is also commemorated on these memorials.
Acknowledgments
Pat Hamilton
Malcolm Lennox
