Pte
Richard Smart
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 18/08/1880 |
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Place of birth: Hayling Island, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Joiner |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 260244 |
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Units: — Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 6th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 23/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Inverness Copse, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 37 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 82.A |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 1
| #1 | Place of birth |
My story
Private Richard Smart served in the Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry, 6th Battalion, part of the 43rd Brigade, of the 14th Division.
On the 23rd of August 1917, the 6th Battalion participated in an attack near Iverness Copse. The attack was to be supported by four tanks. However, while preparing to advance, one tank fell down an embankment on Messines road. A second tank was hit by an anti-tank gun and a third was withdrawn from the fight. At 4.45 am, a fourth tank was called in for support but it got engine trouble and was subsequently left behind. Eventually, the tank that was initially withdrawn came back and took part in the attack.
At 7 am, the Germans made a counter-attack through Iverness Copse with a large number of soldiers. The 6th Battalion failed to hold the line and were forced to fall back. Sometime later the Somerset Light Infantry reinforced the Battalion and the line was restored.
After consolidating their objective, the 6th Battalion spent the rest of the day improving their position. At night, they were bombarded by the Germans who aimed their shellfire at the old and new front lines. A heavy barrage fell on the rear of the new front line which resulted in heavy casualties, especially in the vicinity of Clapham Junction.
Private Richard Smart was killed in action on the 23rd of August 1917. It is possible that he fell during the German counter-attack in Inverness Copse or during the heavy shelling at night. His remains were never identified. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
On the 23rd of August 1917, the 6th Battalion participated in an attack near Iverness Copse. The attack was to be supported by four tanks. However, while preparing to advance, one tank fell down an embankment on Messines road. A second tank was hit by an anti-tank gun and a third was withdrawn from the fight. At 4.45 am, a fourth tank was called in for support but it got engine trouble and was subsequently left behind. Eventually, the tank that was initially withdrawn came back and took part in the attack.
At 7 am, the Germans made a counter-attack through Iverness Copse with a large number of soldiers. The 6th Battalion failed to hold the line and were forced to fall back. Sometime later the Somerset Light Infantry reinforced the Battalion and the line was restored.
After consolidating their objective, the 6th Battalion spent the rest of the day improving their position. At night, they were bombarded by the Germans who aimed their shellfire at the old and new front lines. A heavy barrage fell on the rear of the new front line which resulted in heavy casualties, especially in the vicinity of Clapham Junction.
Private Richard Smart was killed in action on the 23rd of August 1917. It is possible that he fell during the German counter-attack in Inverness Copse or during the heavy shelling at night. His remains were never identified. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 3
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6 Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry , (The National Archives, KEW (TNA) WO 95/1908/2). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Further reference |
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McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 60. Sources used |
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Wyrall E., The history of the Duke of Cornwall 's Light Infantry 1914 -1919, (London, Methuen & co., 1932), pg. 271-274. Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/3065164/ |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=e4b72142-7099-40a9-befe-9ac09ee294bf |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4080163 |