SMART, Ira Alfred
| Service Number: | 980 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 March 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Athelstone, South Australia, 24 February 1897 |
| Home Town: | Modbury, Tea Tree Gully, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Modbury State School |
| Occupation: | Gardener |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Dardanelles, Gallipoli, Turkey, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, 2 November 1915, aged 18 years |
| Cemetery: |
Embarkation Pier Cemetery, Gallipoli.Turkey Embarkation Pier Cemetery, Anzac Cove, Special Memorial D 32, Embarkation Pier Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hope Valley & Highbury Heroes of the Great War Roll, Modbury Loyal Men Roll of Honour, Tea Tree Gully Hope Valley Methodist Church and District Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 980, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 980, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 980, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 2 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 980, 27th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli |
The burial of Bugler Smart
Written by Reginald James (Jim) Godfrey - 3985, 7th Field Ambulance - in a private 1962 memoir titled, 'To ANZAC and After'.
Bugler Smart, was a member of the 27th Batt. The last time I heard him play the Reveillie, was on our transport before we disembarked. To our dressing station, high up in a gully, news came down that he was seriously wounded, and lying exposed to emery shell-fire. Our medical officer immediately went to attend him and to render first aid. Finding him too ill to be moved, he detailed some of the lads to stay and watch him, so as to give him a better chance of recovery.
For two to three days he lingered, but in the early hours of a grey Gallipoli dawn, he died.
I was detailed to be one of a party to carry him to the beach. We were a ragged and unkempt party, long accustomed to the visitations of death and the weary loneliness.
As the sun dipped down beyond the isle of Imbros, the Padre read the burial service, and the Last Post was sounded. We covered our comrade over with Turkish soil, and eft him to rest beside the murmuring waters of the Eagean Sea.
Submitted 18 April 2018 by Tom Stafford
Biography contributed by Jackson Kelsey
Ira Alfred Smart was born 24th February, 1897 in Athelstone, South Australia. He lived most his life in the Modbury area with his parents, William and Anna Smart. He wrote his address as Modbury when he enlisted for war but he was actually living with his sister, Mrs. H. Kemp, at Fulham, South Australia. Smart was a gardener and was employed by Mr Stanford’s garden in his area (Fulham) just before going to camp.
Smart had previously been training with the Grange Army Cadets, a youth organisation that is involved in training and adventurous activities within a military setting.
At 18 years of age, on the 27th March, 1915, Smart was assessed by Medical Examining Officers to be accepted into war. Smart weighed 136 pounds (around 61 Kilograms) and measured 5 feet 6 inches.
Smart was enlisted for war on May 31 at Keswick, South Australia and embarked on the “Geelong” on the 31st May, 1915, assigned to the 27th Battalion. Smart headed for Egypt where pre-war training would take place over a time of two months.
On the 31st October, 1915, while on the Gallipoli campaign, Smart was shot through the chest. He died two days later from the injury. Many officers sent sympathy messages to his family after his passing.
Biography
"THE LATE BUGLER I. A. SMART.
News was received, on Monday of the death from wounds at the Dardanelles of Bugler Ira Alfred Smart. He was the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Smart, of Modbury. He enlisted on May 31, previous to which he was in the employ of Mr. F. Stanford, of Fulham. He was born at Athelstone, but had spent most of his life at Modbury, and was respected by all with whom he came in contact. He was a member of the 27th Battalion, and the official notification stated that his death occurred on November 2. Had he lived he would have celebrated his 19th birthday in February next." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 04 Dec 1915 (nla.gov.au)
"LATE BGLR. IRA SMART.
MODBURY, December 28.- Mr. and Mrs. W. Smart, whose son, Bglr. Ira A. Smart, was killed at the Dardanelles, have now received particulars regarding the manner in which he met his death. He was shot through the lungs on the afternoon of October 31, and died on November 2. Several officers have written to Mrs. Smart expressing their sympathy. Lieut.-Col. Dollman (the commanding officer of the 27th Battalion) wrote concerning the deceased soldier:—
'His last thoughts were of you. Your son lived cleanly and well, and he died bravely in the service of King, home, and country. Pte. Colin Rivett, of Lockleys, who enlisted at the same time as Bglr. Smart, writing to the latter's parents on November 2, said:—
'I have jurt buried my mate. It was a very hard job, as Ira was such a good friend to me. We did all we could for him, but he passed away very peacefully. I am making a little stone cross to put on his grave.'
The late Bglr. Smart was employed in Mr. F. Stanford's garden at Fulham before going into camp. He enlisted on May 31, and was in camp for seven weeks when he sailed for the Dardanelles." - from the Adelaide Register 29 Dec 1915 (nla.gov.au)
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