Monday 1 April 2013

Lieutenant Douglas Allan Bogue Smart

Born on 4 March 1895 in Brockville, Ontario - son of George Bogue Smart, Inspector of British Immigrant Children, Department of the Interior, and Annie Lindsay Smart, Ottawa, Ottawa - at the time of his enlistment in 1916: present address same as father; trade as reporter; single; currently a member of the active militia; previously served with the Governor General's Foot Guards (seven months) and the 38th and 77th Battalions, CEF (thirteen months); Baptist; height of 5 feet 7.5 inches; chest of 38 inches fully expanded; fair complexion; grey eyes; brown hair - currently serving with the Governor General's Foot Guards in 1914 - educated at Ashbury College, Ottawa, Ontario - reported with the Ottawa "Evening Journal".

Joined the 77th Battalion, CEF, on 4 August 1915 - taken on the strength of the 38th Battalion, CEF, as a Lieutenant in Bermuda on 6 December 1915 - struck off the strength of the 38th Battalion on 25 April 1916 - repatriated to Canada - reverted to the ranks and joined the 92nd Battalion, CEF, in Toronto, Ontario, on 3 May 1916 (number 192150) - taken on the strength of the 42nd Battalion, CEF, on 29 July 1916 - declared missing, presumed dead, after being wounded in the leg on 16 September 1916 - official record of death: "Presumed to have died on or since September 16th, 1916, in the vicinity of Courcelette, at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, Some, 1916. Grave not located. Will be commemorated on the Vimy Memorial." - name inscribed on the Vimy Memorial, France

(Updated with a photo of Lieut Smart's inscription on the Vimy Memorial that I took in August 2012).

(sources: Library and Archives Canada (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca), online attestation papers; Canadian War Museum, 19740281-001, Manu 58F 2 3, 207th Canadian Infantry Battalion and 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Nominal Roll; The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Regimental Museum, A400-0007, Master Personnel List for the 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force; Commonwealth War Graves Commission, "Debt of Honour" register, www.cwgc.org; Anonymous, An Historical Sketch of the Seventy-Seventh Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force (Ottawa: War Publications Limited, 1926, pp.63-64))

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