Lieutenant Eustace Fowler SMART
7th (Service) Battalion Leicestershire Regiment

Date of birth: 10th October 1894
Date of death: 8th February 1916

Killed in action aged 21
Buried at Bienvillers Military Cemetery Plot I Row A Grave 9
He was born in Folkestone on the 10th of October 1894 the only son of Frank Smart, company clerk of the South Eastern and Chatham Railway Company, and Christina Emma (nee Fowler) of 46 Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone in Kent. He was christened at Folkestone on the 20th of November 1894.

He was educated at the King’s School Canterbury from January 1908 to July 1909 as a probationer scholar.

On leaving school he worked as a bank clerk and lived at 7 Parliament Hill, in North West London. He considered joining the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps and was proposed for membership by F.R. Latter OKS on the 25th of May 1914, but in the event he didn't enlist.

He enlisted as Private A/916 in the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps on the 5th of August 1914 at 10 Stone Buildings, Lincolns Inn and was posted to A Company. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Leicestershire Regiment on the 12th of September 1914 and was promoted to Lieutenant in November 1914. He embarked for France with the 7th Battalion of his regiment onboard SS "Onward" on the 29th of July 1915 and landed at Boulogne just after midnight the following morning.

On the 5th of February 1916 the battalion relieved the 9th Battalion of their regiment in trenches in the Bienvillers sector of the line where they had been stationed all winter. On the 8th of February Eustace Smart went out on patrol and was killed by a rifle bullet while between the lines. His body was recovered by his men. He was the first officer of his battalion to be killed in action.

His father received the following telegram dated the 11th of February 1916: -

"Deeply regret to inform you Lieut. E.F. Smart 7th Leicesters was killed in action 8th Feby. Lord Kitchener expresses his sympathy."

He is commemorated on the war memorial at Folkestone.
Day Boy

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