7th weekly story is told of Ryde's Private Frederick Smart Service No. 669.

The story this week is a brief look at Private Frederick SMART who was killed at Messines in Flanders on Good Friday in 1918 (Not 1917 as published in story). In his soldiers' will, he made provision for his girlfriend, Dorothy Dickman, left at home in Moore Park to purchase a mourning ring should he die!

Fredrick was only 22 when he enlisted in February 1915, and served with the 19th Battalion in Egypt, Gallipoli, France and Belgium, He was the son of orchardist William Smart and his wife Harriet. Private Smart was employed by Meadowbank Manufacturing Company  and lived with his family at “Orangeville”  Parkes Street, Ryde at the time of his enlistment.

The Red Cross file  of enquiry into his death indicate evidence was given by his fellow  local soldiers including Corporal Sydney Alfred Burgess JONES (SRN 4457), of Western Crescent, Gladesville, and Lieutenant Reginald James FITZROY (SRN 1880), of Shepherd Street ,Ryde.

Week 7 : 12 November 2014 - The Northern District Times, page 27
Digger’s will request ensures love lives on
[if you click on the title -- it should take you to the on-line edition of the newspaper]