George Smart
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George was born in 1894 the son of Frederick a plain net maker and Maria Smart (née Campion). His father was born in 1866 at Basford, his mother in 1866 at Arnold. Married in 1884, they had eleven children one dying in infancy. George’s surviving siblings were Maria b.1887 Carrington, Frederick b.1889 Arnold, Elizabeth b.1892 Arnold, Samuel b.1896 Basford, Annie b.1899 Basford, Frank William b.1901, Carrington, Cecil Clarence b.103 Carrington and Doris May b.1906 Carrington. In 1901 the family lived at 14 Jenner Street Carrington and in 1911 at 2 Cannon Street Sherwood (both Nottingham).
6th Bn George Smart enlisted in Australia on 18th January 1915. He embarked from Melbourne on 13th April 1915 on HMAT Wiltshire travelling to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. He landed on the Gallipoli Peninsular and on 7th August. He received a gunshot wound to the leg and was evacuated from the Peninsular on board the hospital ship Dunluce Castle. The following day he died and was buried at sea during the voyage from Sulva Bay to Mudros. Lone Pine Memorial Gallipoli.
In 1911 his fifteen year old brother Samuel was drowned in the River Trent trying to save the life of a 10 year old boy. Sheffield Daily Telegraph 8th August 1911 :- 'NOTTINGHAM BOY'S SACRIFICE Samuel Smart, aged 15, residing at Sherwood, Nottingham, lost his life yesterday in attempting to rescue Harold Brown, aged 10, who go into difficulties whilst bathing in the Trent. The two boys sank, and Brown lost consciousness but on being got out was brought round by means of artificial respiration. Unfortunately, in the case of Smart this proved ineffectual.’ In Memoriam 7th August 1916 Nottingham Evening Post ;- 'SMART. – In loving remembrance of Samuel, who was drowned August 7th, 1911, in trying to save a friend; also George, died of wounds received in action, August 8th, 1915, loving sons of Mr. and Mrs. F. Smart, Sherwood. Never will their memory fade.' Newspaper report and In Memoriam notice courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Research by Peter Gillings
