Pte
Richard Smart
Informations sur naissance
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Date de naissance: 18/08/1880 |
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Lieu de naissance: Hayling Island, Hampshire, Angleterre, Royaume-Uni |
Informations générales
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Profession: Menuisier |
Informations service militaire
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Pays: Angleterre, Royaume-Uni |
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Force armée: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rang: Private |
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Numéro de service: 260244 |
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Unités: — Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 6th Bn. (Dernière unité connue) |
Informations sur décès
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Date de décès: 23/08/1917 |
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Lieu de décès: Inverness Copse, Belgique |
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Cause du décès: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Âge: 37 |
Mémorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panneau: 82.A |
Distinctions et médailles 2
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British War Medal Médaille |
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Victory Medal Médaille |
Points d'intérêt 1
| #1 | Lieu de naissance |
Mon histoire
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 A second tank was hit by an anti-tank gun and a third was withdrawn from the fight.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 Eventually, the tank that was initially withdrawn came back and took part in the attack.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 Autre référence |
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McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 60. Sources utilisées |
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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 utilisées |
Complément d’informations 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 |