William Mathew Smart

 William Mathew Smart

William was born on 17th January 1892 in Aberdeen at 11 Baltic Street, father John was a foreman in a chemical works while his mother Isabella kept home. In 1901 the family lived at 39 Albion Street Aberdeen and consisted of four boys, of which William was the eldest, and four girls.

In 1913 William married Nancy Wood and the same year their daughter, Georgina, was born, the couple resided at 130 Sinclair Road, Torry, Aberdeen.

Before World War I started William had been a Territorial soldier, Gunner 4318, with 1st Highland Brigade Royal Field Artillery a Territorial Force unit. It was based in Silver Street Aberdeen and comprised of a headquarters, 1st, 2nd and 3rd City of Aberdeen Batteries (changed to 255, 255 and 258 (howitzer) batteries and an ammunition column. It had existed in this form since the Haldene reforms of 1908 at which time the newly formed Territorial Force units were renumbered, 2nd City of Aberdeen Battery were numbered from 1000 extending, but not initially using, to 3000. William's original number was 1087 which placed him not as an original member but somewhere not to distant, he was 18 in 1910 this is probably significant. On the outbreak of war the Brigade and its members were embodied into service and commenced training for war, William rejoined his old unit as a Gunner and was assigned the number 4318.

Courtesy Silver City Vault, Aberdeen history.

On 2nd May 1915 as part of 51st Highland Division (HD), William landed in France, within days they went into action near Lillers armed with obsolete 15 pounder guns. A number of these guns were withdrawn after a few days resulting in the issue of brand new 18 pounder field guns. During 1915 51st HD were in action in the Battles of Festubert and Givenchy before moving down to the Somme District where they were based near Hamel.

Australian 18 pounder in action IWM

18 pound Shrapnel shell

On 25th July 1916 255th Brigade commenced firing on the German front line as part of the artillery bombardment preceding the Somme Offensive, the main artillery action had started the previous day. Initially this was for four days and the 18 pounder field guns role was to cut the defensive wire in front of the German line and to help destroy the trenches. At the end of the four days the Infantry assault was postponed until 1st July and the guns continued to fire. Later in the month 255th were in action during the assaults of High Wood which continued until 15th September.

At the beginning of October 1916 the 255th moved to Hedauville and about this time William was involved in an accident where he sustained broken ribs, entering the casualty chain he was admitted to no 3 Casualty Clearing Station on 5th October. William died on 11th October, the cause of death recorded as resulting from broken ribs. This is a very rare occurrence, the usual causes of death from chest crush injuries are caused by broken ribs damaging organs and internal bleeding, more recent studies show a 0.5% fatality rate in William's age group.

William was buried in Puchevillers British cemetery which was serving the two CCS's based at this location and is the last resting place of 1765 men. He left £27.9.5 in back pay which was later added to by a war gratuity of 9.10.0, split between his wife and daughter. His 1914/15 Star, British War and Victory Medals along with a Memorial Plaque and Scroll were forwarded to Nancy after the war.

In 2016 the Royal British Legion commissioned the manufacture of a poppy pin to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. The metal used to form the flower is made from brass shell fuses, both Impact and Shrapnell, recovered from the battlefield by farmers, the red colour is made from finely ground soil from the area.

Brass 18 pounder fuse

 My Somme 100 pin