Thomas John Smart:
An Egypt War and First War Medal bar, consisting of:
1. An Egypt Medal with TEL -EL- KEBIR and ALEXANDRIA 11TH JULY clasps, silver, rim engraved T.J. SMART A.B. H.M.S. “PENELOPE.”, on swivel bar suspension, dark patina, light wear around ethe edges, in very fine condition.
2. Egypt Medal, bronze, full size, worn on crescent and star suspension with original ribbon, light residue in relief, minor wear, in very fine condition.
3. British War Medal, silver, full size, rim impressed 71843 SGT. T. SMART. 27-CAN.INF:, dark patina, light edge knocks, worn on original ribbon, in very fine condition.
4. 1914-15 Star, bronze, full size, reverse impressed 71843 PTE T. SMART. 27/CAN.INF:, worn on original ribbon, light wear and lovely patina, in very fine condition.
5. Victory Medal, bronze gilt, full size, rim impressed 71483 SJT. T. SMART. 27-CAN.INF., worn backwards on medal bar on original ribbon, light wear, in very fine condition. The medal bar measures 170mm (w) x 110mm (h – top to end of 14-15 star), weighs 199.7 grams, horizontal pin on reverse, in overall very fine condition. Accompanied by one palm leaf denoting MID.
Robert Smart:
British War Medal, silver, full size, rim impressed 235782 R.Y. SMART. A.B. R.N., worn on original ribbon, dark patina, minor wear, in very fine condition.
1914-15 Star, bronze, full size, reverse impressed 235782 R.T. SMART. A.B.,R.N., worn on original ribbon, very minimal wear, in very fine condition. Accompanied by original box. Victory Medal, bronze gilt, full size, rim impressed 23572 R.T. SMART. A.B. R.N, worn on original ribbon, minimal wear, in extremely fine condition.
Russia. A St. George Cross, in silver, reverse arms engraved 167446, measures 33.8mm (w) x 41mm (h – inclusive of integral ring), weighs 12.9 grams (including ribbon), worn on original ribbon, dark patina, slight wear, in extremely fine condition. Accompanied by original box denoting award number and recipient in very fine condition.
William Smart:
British War Medal, silver, full size, rim impressed 2. LIEUT. W. SMART., worn on original ribbon, very dark patina, minor wear, in very fine condition. Accompanied by original box. 1914-15 Star, bronze, full size, reverse impressed 32260.
PTE. W. SMART. R.A.M.C., worn on original ribbon, very minimal wear, in extremely fine condition. Accompanied by original box.
Victory Medal, bronze gilt, full size, rim impressed 2. LIEUT. W. SMART., worn on original ribbon, minimal wear, in extremely fine condition. Accompanied by original box.
The Lancashire Fusiliers Cap Badge, bronze, measures 51.9mm (w) x 41.7mm (h), reverse bears three lugs for pin attachment (two for horizontal pin and one at 12 o’clock for the vertical pin, in extremely fine condition. This lot is accompanied by research documents on each individual.
Footnote:
Thomas John Smart was born November 10 1857 in Paisley, Scotland. T. Smart joined the Royal Navy in 1875 and served until December 1884. During this time, he served in Egypt, earning the Egypt Medal with Tel-El-Kebir clasp and Alexandria 11th July clasp, while board the H.MS. Penelope in 1882. Prior to the First War, he immigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba with his wife, Annie and sons. He enlisted on October 24, 1914 at the age of 56 with the 27th battalion. The unit sailed on May 17 1915 for Cologne. On March 21, 1916, he was promoted to Sergeant in the field. Smart was mentioned in dispatches in 1918. After 3 years and 3 months of service, Smart was returned to England and was later discharged due to demobilization on October 24, 1919. In 1921, he resided in Rosser, Manitoba with his wife and surviving son. Smart died on July 29, 1950 of a heart attack at a hospital in Winnipeg, leaving his possession to his son, Henry.
Robert Thomas Smart was born on July 11, 1888 to Thomas John and Annie Smart in Brompton, London. He joined the Royal Navy on February 5, 1906 serving at first on the Boscawen III. Able Seaman R.T Smart was killed in action on August 19 1915, while aboard the HM Submarine E13, at the age of 27. The HMS E13 was despatched on August 14 1915, serving in the Baltic Sea. After four days, the submarine ran aground in shallow water near Saltholm island and became visible in the early morning. The Royal Danish Navy charged the sub with leaving within 24 hours lest they become interned for violating Denmark’s neutrality, however she had grounded in only 10 feet of water. At 10:28, the German torpedo boat G132 arrived. German naval operations against the Russian-held city of Riga were at a critical stage and it was decided that the E13 could not be allowed to pass into the Baltic. Rear Admiral Robert Mischke ordered the G132 and another torpedo boat to destroy the submarine. The E13 was hit repeatedly and set on fire, and the crew abandoned ship, however the firing continued when the men were in the water. A total of fourteen of the crew’s twenty-eight men were killed, and one reported MIA, presumed killed. R.T Smart’s grave is in Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery.
William Leonard Smart was born in 1894 to Thomas John and Annie Smart. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a private, and later served with Lancashire Fusiliers as a Second Lieutenant during the First World War. W. Smart was killed in action on August 29, 1918. W. Smart is commemorated in the Mory Street Military Cemetery, St. Leger in the United Kingdom.