Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021:
Labourer Robert Smart, 29, was born in Bega, NSW and enlisted in Brisbane, Queensland. As the beneficiaries of his estate, Smart nominated his two sisters, one of whom, Helen Smart, lived in Carnarvon Street, North Auburn. This may be the reason for his inclusion on the Auburn War Memorial and municipality honour roll, rather than on any of the Auburn school or church rolls.
Smart had a lengthy and commendable service in the AIF. He enlisted on 12 April 1915. The next recorded date was his departure for Gallipoli from Alexandria in Egypt on 4 September 1915. Smart remained on Gallipoli until the evacuation, arriving back in Alexandria on 9 January 1916. On Gallipoli, he had been promoted to Temporary Sergeant and the rank was made substantive back at the Tel-el-Kebir camp in Egypt. Sergeant Smart was allocated to the 26th Battalion, 2nd Australian Division, and he moved with them to France via Marseilles in March 1916.
Smart's service record does not show any crimes, wounds, sickness or disease. One entry says: ‘Took part in raid on enemy trenches on night 6/7 June’. Smart survived on the Western Front for four months before being killed in action on 14 November 1916. He was one of eight Auburn Memorial men killed in the last days of the First Battle of the Somme. Smart's body was never found, therefore his name is recorded on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France.
As he was single, with no children or brothers, and as his parents were deceased, Smart’s war medals (the Memorial Scroll, the Memorial Plaque) and the pamphlet ‘Where Australians Rest’ went to his sister Helen in Auburn. Like most Auburn Memorial men, Smart had few personal effects. His sisters received his Pocket book, Note-book, Postcards, and Photos.
The name of Robert Smart was added to the Auburn War Memorial after unveiling day, 30 April 1922.
Robert Smart is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal 1914-20
- Victory Medal
- 1914-1915 Star
