Edward Smart

Group portrait of Siege Artillery Brigade officers (SAB), 1914, Melbourne. All of this group embarked on 17 July 1915 on HMAT Orsova (A67) from Melbourne, arriving England 25 August 1915. Back row L-R: Lt HDE Ralfe, Lt HC Bundock, Lt W Tomkinson, Lt Edward Kenneth Smart, Lt C Morris, Lt Basil Morris, Lt PW Dobson, Lt WW Whittle Front row L-R: Capt RW Cohiston-Walsh, Capt AW Bates, Maj FW Osborne, LtCol WA Coxen, Maj JH Hurst, Capt GStJF McDonald, Capt MD Williams

Lieutenant General Edward Kenneth Smart, (23 May 1891 – 2 May 1961) was a career officer in the Australian Army, and subsequently a diplomat. He married twice and his second wife was the Canadian diplomat Margaret Gordon.

Early years Ken Smart was born 23 May 1891 in Kew, an inner suburb of Melbourne, Australia, and was educated at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School. He was commissioned into the Corps of Australian Engineers as a second lieutenant on 18 July 1910. On 1 December he was promoted to lieutenant in the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery, and by 1914 was an officer of the Siege Artillery Brigade commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Walter Adams Coxen. On 12 June 1915 he married Phyllis E. Robertson.

Smart arrived in France on 2 March 1916, and saw action at Vimy Ridge in May before becoming involved in the Battle of the Somme from June 1916 to March 1917. In September 1916, during the course of heavy fighting in which he was wounded, his actions led to him being awarded the Military Cross. The citation reads:

On 13 December 1916 he was appointed adjutant of the 36th Heavy Artillery Group (HAG) and promoted to the rank of captain. During 1917 he was placed in command of 39th Battery, 10th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, 4th Australian Division, and saw action in Messines (May–June), near Nieuport (July) and near Dixmude (October). In November 1917 he took a position at headquarters 4th Divisional Artillery as a Brigade-Major Trainee, and in December he was mentioned in despatches.

Group portrait of headquarters details of the 4th Australian Divisional Field Artillery, Belgium, March 1918. Stood in the back row on the extreme left is Major E. K. Smart.

In April 1918 Smart took a position at headquarters Australian Corps near Albert, and in June was promoted to brevet major, taking command of the 110th Howitzer Battery, 10th Australian Field Artillery Brigade. Involved in heavy fighting in August and September, he was seriously wounded on 27 September, and subsequently recommended for the Distinguished Service Order.

His service in the First World War resulted in nine entries in the Australian War Memorial's Honours and Awards database:

Award or Recommendation Date awarded /recommended Unit Notes Awarded: Military Cross 14 November 1916 10th Australian Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) Awarded: Mention in Despatches 28 December 1917 4th Division Artillery Recommended: Brevet Major 7 May 1918 Royal Australian Garrison Artillery (RAGA) Confirmation: Brevet Major 8 May 1918 RAGA Recommended: Brevet Major 10 May 1918 RAGA Recommended: Brevet Major 10 May 1918 RAGA Recommended: Distinguished Service Order 31 January 1919 10th Australian Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) Awarded: Distinguished Service Order 3 June 1919 10th FAB Awarded: Mention in Despatches 11 July 1919 10th FAB

Inter-bellum After discharge from the AIF, Smart remained in the army and from 31 May to 1 October 1919 attended Artillery College in England. He returned to Australia and, from 16 February to 10 September 1920, served as Officer Commanding No. 6 Company, Royal Australian Garrison Artillery, 3rd Military District in Victoria. He remained in this position until his retirement from the Australian Army on 2 July 1946.

Post-military career and personal life From London Smart proceeded to San Francisco where he served as Australian Consul-General from 1946 to 1949, and then to New York, where he continued to serve as Australian Consul-General, from 1946 until his retirement in 1954 to Melbourne with his second wife. He had married the Canadian diplomat Margaret Gordon in 1953.

Smart had first married Phyllis E. Robertson, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel J. Robertson, on 12 June 1915. They had two children; a son and a daughter. Smart's recreations were walking and motoring, and his club was the Navy, Army and Air Force Club in Melbourne. Smart died on 2 May 1961.

Honours Honours awarded to Ken Smart until 1920:

Also, Mentioned in Despatches: 28 December 1917 and 11 July 1919