SMART, Claude Edward

Claude Smart was the son of George and Emily Smart of 'Normanshurst' at Burnt Tree, Tipton. He was educated at Dudley Grammar School and then worked for the family firm, Thomas Smart and Sons of Tipton, He enlisted in Worcestershire Hussars before the war but volunteered for Worcester Territorials He trained with the 3/7th Battalion and was then commissioned to the 14th (Pioneer) Battalion in the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division and promoted Lieutenant. They went to the Western Front in May 1916 and spent some time in Artois. They moved to the Somme battle-field late in 1916 and took part in the November Battle of the Ancre. The night of 12-13th November was marked by grim weather conditions which made the work of the Pioneers even more difficult. Hood Battalion under Colonel Freyburg stormed the village of Beaucourt and was awarded the Victoria Cross. Claude Smart, however, was wounded, although he soon returned to the front line. The Dvision move to the Arras area for the major April Battles but Lt Claude Smart was killed in action on the 24th July in the front line near the village of Gavrelle close to Arras. He is buried in Bailleul Rd. East Cemetery, St. Lawrence-Blangy (I N 10) and commemorated on the Dudley, St. John's Kates Hill, Dudley Grammar school and Conservative Club Memorials and by an inscription on his parents' grave at St John's, Kates Hill, and by a window inside the church.