Served with the Honourable Artillery Company.
He was the son of Frederick Smart of Thornhayes, London Lane, Bromley. His brother Geoffrey Smart also served in the Honourable Artillery Company
Before taking up service, Claude was an artist by profession and studied at the Carlton Studios. He had won two King’s prizes in one year.
The Honourable Artillery Company was sent to France at the end of September after review by the King on 25th September.
He was on night duty taking a dispatch to a village 4 miles from Le Mans. As he mounted, a searchlight startled the horse which reared and fell backwards. Smart untangled himself but failed to get quite clear and the horse rolled onto him. Smart was taken to hospital. In letters home Corporal Smart made comparatively light of the affair. Once his parents heard how serious his injuries were they were unable to make arrangements to get to France before the telegram arrived to inform them of his death.
Claude Smart died on 27th October 1914, in France
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Source:
Bromley & District Times, 30th October 1914, pages 7 & 12
Also see:
Commemorated at the memorial service at Bromley Parish Church [Bromley & District Times, 9th July 1915, pg 3]
A memorial service held at Plaistow for all the fallen [Bromley & District Times, 10th November 1916, pg 9]
