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| Private Leonard William Smart |
40th Battalion |
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Leonard Smart, George Smith and Lewis Sturzaker enlisted in March 1916 and were all allotted to the 40th Battalion on enlistment, but deployed to different companies. Leonard was a 19 year old farmer from Yolla. In the days following the battle of Messines, having been present in the front line when 19 mines exploded, Leonard reported to the Regimental Medical Officer suffering from shell shock. After several weeks in hospital in France he was evacuated to England for further treatment returning to the Battalion on 19 November 1917. Within weeks he had developed trench foot and a dose of trench fever and once more evacuated for treatment. On 28 March, the battalion were now on the Somme when Leonard sustained a severe gun shot wound to his back. He was evacuated to England for treatment before departing there on 15 September 1918. Leonard died at the Repatriation Hospital on 12 October 1952 and was buried in the Somerset Cemetery.
