Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The British War Medal awarded to Lieutenant E. T. Smart, Royal Garrison Artillery, attached Royal Flying Corps, who died on the Western Front on 17 March 1918, when he failed to return from a bombing raid on enemy lines

British War Medal 1914-20 (2. Lieut. E. T. Smart) very fine £100-£140

Edward Treloar Smart, the son of Rev. John Smart of Hythe, Kent, was born around 1898 in Monkton Combe, Somerset. He attended Tonbridge School and was afterwards a pupil in the Traffic Department of the South Eastern Railway at London Bridge before being commissioned into the Special Reserve of the Royal Garrison Artillery on 13 October 1915, for service during the Great War. He served at home with Anti Aircraft Batteries in Scotland until 27 March 1917 when he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps. Gazetted Flying Officer on 14 July 1917, he served on the Western Front from 25 August 1917 as a Pilot to No. 2 Artillery Observation Squadron. Smart was advanced Lieutenant in October 1917; on 27 March 1918, during the German spring offensive, he failed to return from a bombing raid in the Bray-Roye Sector, East of Amiens.

The Second in Command of No. 2 Squadron wrote: ‘By the notification as missing of E. T. Smart a link with the Squadron and, more particularly, with B Flight, as we knew it, is snapped. His cheery personality and never-failing good humour under trying circumstances went far to render the Flight such a happy crowd. His work at first was patrol, later artillery registrations, and subsequently, as he gained experience, photography, both vertical and oblique. The Squadron photographic records show many examples of his good work done under bad conditions. When he was sent in his early days to interview an enraged battery commander, whose guns had refused to answer to the corrections sent from the air, he poured oil on the troubled waters in his own inimitable way, and quickly restored cordial relations. One could multiply instances of this gift of his, but one further example will suffice. Once, owing to engine failure, he perched on the roof of a house in his machine. He climbed down through the breach and met the astounded occupants on the stairs. His entry took some explaining, but he was quickly on good terms with his hosts. It was not his turn for the last trip that he made, but he was so eager to take his share in the big battle that he prevailed on another pilot to let him take his place.’

He is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, France.

Sold together with a copy of his Medal Index Card, confirming the issue of his Great War medals in the rank of Second Lieutenant.