Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private B. Smart, Somerset Light Infantry, who was killed in action at Loos in September 1915

1914-15 Star (10528 Pte., Som. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (10528 Pte., Som. L.I.), together with related Memorial Plaque (Bert Smart), the last with spots of staining in places, otherwise nearly extremely fine (4) £80-100

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 13th Regiment and Somerset Light Infantry.

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Bert Smart was killed in action at Loos on 25 September 1915, while serving in the 7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry; the following extract was taken from the roll of honour published in Bristol and the War, November 1915:

‘Private B. Smart, No. 10528, 7th Somerset Light Infantry, Machine Gun Company, was killed at the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915. He was 27 years of age, and unmarried, his home being at 9 Burchell’s Green Road, Kingswood, and he was a brother of Jack Smart, the Bristol Rovers’ old player. He had been employed as a miner at the Kingswood and Parkfield Collieries. In a letter to his mother, Lieutenant E. W. Pidgeon says:

“He was one of the best men in the Machine-Gun Section. On Saturday we had occasion to open a very heavy fire to assist our troops on our left, who were doing glorious work. Your son manned one of my guns, and continued firing with great courage when all the time he himself was under a sharp enemy fire, which, I am extremely sorry to say, at last found him. He died a true and brave soldier’s death. Had he lived, his name would have found a place in the list of dispatches for distinguished conduct, as I felt it my duty to bring his brave conduct to the notice of his Commanding Officer. He was liked and admired by all his comrades. He never shirked duty or danger.” ’

Smart was interred in the Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, in the Pas de Calais.