George William Smart (1884-1915)

Wyndham City Libraries

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George William Smart

1957

Elizabeth Jane Smart,
Wife

Werribee, Victoria

Married

Ari Burnu Cemetery,
Gallipoli
Plot 1, Grave 14

No. 1957  Private George William Smart
[Listed on Wyndham Presbyterian Church Honor Roll board as Smart, C.W.].

George William Smart was born in Richmond, a suburb of Melbourne, in February 1884. A hairdresser by profession, George was living in Werribee with his wife, Eliza Jane Smart, when war broke out.  She was listed as his next of kin.

George and Eliza had four daughters:

• Kathleen Joyce
• Elvie Frances
• Juna Mavis and
• Lorna Edith

War Service
George enlisted in the AIF on 12 April 1914 at Werribee aged 31.

For the first two months of his military career, he was sent for basic training at Broadmeadows Camp. He was then officially attached to the 8th Reinforcements, 22nd Infantry Battalion.

George and his mates left Melbourne in May 1915 and sailed for Egypt where the Battalion underwent further training.

In September 1915, the Battalion landed at Gallipoli to support the AIF and other members of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF).

While on Gallipoli, he was taken on strength as part of the 22nd Infantry Battalion. The Battalion served in the front line until December 1915 when Gallipoli was evacuated.

Private George Smart was seriously wounded on 2 December 1915. He was transferred to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station on Anzac Beach where he died the next day.

The Gallipoli campaign was the first time the casualty clearing station concept had been used by the AIF, staffed with its own doctors, surgeons, radiologists, dentists and nurses.

It provided immediate care for wounded and sick soldiers, saving countless lives during the nine month campaign. Seriously wounded or ill soldiers were then evacuated.

The 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station war diary for December 1915, notes that it had evacuated 37,100 soldiers between the initial landings on 25 April 1915 until final evacuation on 20 December 20 1915.

Private George William Smart is buried and remembered at Ari Burnu Cemetery on Gallipoli (plot 1, grave 14).

Medals and Entitlements:

• 1914-15 Star
• British War Medal
• Victory Medal
• Memorial Plaque and Scroll
• King's Message

Lest we forget

Service record: NAA: B2455 Smart G W
Australian Casualty Clearing Station war diary, December 1915: http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/bundled/RCDIG1013822.pdf

1914-15 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal