Lance Corporal Thomas Smart

Lance Thomas Thompson Smart, 27th Battalion ( 4th Tyneside Irish ), Northumberland Fusiliers. He was killed in France , aged 38, on 25th April 1917 during the Battle of Arras. He had been born in Melrose to Thomas and Agnes Smart of Huntly House, Gattonside, Melrose and was the brother of George Smart ( see below). He was married to Mary Smart of Dingleton, Melrose and is buried in Browns Copse Cemetery, Roeux, Arras, France. He had served his apprenticeship as a plumber in Melrose before enlisting in the K.O.S.B. in January 1900. However he was discharged in the same year. On the day he fell the Battalion were preparing for an attack on the German strongpoint in the village of Roeux and to this end were consolidating “Cam” and “Cawdor” trenches. This was done under heavy shellfire and 3 men were killed and six wounded. It is probable that one of the fatalities was Thomas Smart. The photos show Allied troops during the Battle.