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Biography
Findlay Scott Smart
Findlay (also Findley, Finlay, Finley) Scott Smart was born March 12, 1880, in Brussels, Huron County, Ontario, to parents James and Mary Anne (Ross) Smart. Findlay grew up as one of twelve children, with six brothers and five sisters, all but one born in Brussels. Between 1899-1900, the family moved first to Silver Corners then to Sebringville, Ellice Township, Perth County, where his parents bought a farm on lot 11 concession 2 in 1903.
By 1911, Findlay moved to Stratford, Perth County, Ontario, where he worked as a teamster and a labourer for William Richardson, a cartage agent located at 74 Ontario. Findlay moved around a lot during this time, living at 182 Ontario St then 144 Albert in 1913. By 1914 he was a driver for Johnston & Son, living at Ontario House.
After the breakout of WWI, Findlay signed his attestation papers in Stratford on October 14, 1915, enlisting as a Private with the 71th Overseas Battalion CEF. With this unit he sailed overseas on the SS Olympic from Halifax on April 2, 1916, disembarking in Liverpool, England, nine days later. After arriving in Liverpool, Private Smart transferred to the 74th Battalion CEF on May 28, 1916, a unit which provided reinforcements to the Canadian Corps in the field.
Ten days later, on June 8, 1916, Findlay proceeded overseas to France with the 2nd Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles (CMR). With this unit, Private Smart fought in the battle of Somme 1916, during which he was wounded in action on July 24, 1916. He was quickly helped by the No.8 Canadian Field Ambulance, then admitted to the Edmonton Military Hospital in Silver Street, Edmonton, England, with a gunshot wound to his left shoulder and left calf. He was discharged on August 2, 1916, and sent to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre (CCAC) in Folkestone, England, which processed, assessed, and managed Canadian soldiers returning to the front lines in France after being medically cleared post-injury.
Private Smart returned to the 2nd Regiment CMR in France to continue fighting in the Battle of Somme where he was again injured in the field. On September 9, 1916, Private Smart was admitted to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park Estate, Epsom in Surry, England, with gunshot wound to the chest, where he underwent treatment until September 15, when he was discharged and attached to the Canadian Convalescent Depot (CCD) in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England, where he recovered and underwent physical training before returning to active duty.
About a month after receiving his injury, on November 19, 1916, Private Smart was discharged from the CCD to No.1 Canadian Corps Training Battalion (1CCTB) in Hastings, England. With this unit, Private Findlay sailed again to France, landing on December 23, 1916. Five days later, he was reassigned to the 2nd Battalion CMR.
With this unit he participated in the Second Battle of Arras. However, on May 9, 1917, Private Smart was reportedly sick in the field and was returned the next day to the British Columbia Regimental Depot in Seaford, Sussex, then was admitted to Fulham Military Hospital in Hammersmith, London, England, with trench fever. A month later, on June 10, he was transferred to Bromley Convalescent Hospital in Kent, then to the Canadian Red Cross Special Hospital Buxton on June 18. Since contracting trench fever, Private Smart complained of pain in the left knee. While in the RCHS Buxton, X-rays showed pieces of shrapnel lodged inside his chest and left leg, which were then removed.
He was discharged from the hospital on August 4, 1917, transferring to and taking on command at the 3rd Canadian Command Depot (3CCD) at Seaford, Sussex, where he recovered his strength and underwent re-training with other injured soldiers. On September 29, 1917, Private Smart ceased to be on command at 3CCD and was detailed to Depot Company.
About a month later, on October 23, 1917, due to his injuries, Private Smart took on command to the Canadian Discharge Depot Buxton, where they arranged the return of discharged, disabled, or injured Canadians. Shortly after, on November 6, 1917, he sailed from Liverpool for Canada on the SS Olympic. After arriving in Halifax, he travelled by train and took on strength with the F unit Military Hospitals Commission Command (MHCC) on November 29, 1917, and was admitted as an inpatient of the London Military Convalescent Hospital (LMCH) with a wounded chest and knee. On December 12, 1917, Private Smart was admitted to the Guelph Military Convalescent Hospital (GMCH) as an outpatient, where they recommended him for discharge due to his injuries. He was hence discharged as medically unfit on February 10, 1918, from the No.1 District Depot in London, Ontario.
Following his discharge, Findlay Smart returned home to Stratford. He was awarded a medal for his service from Seaforth, where his mother was living at the time. He worked a variety of jobs, including working as a teamster, working at the GTR, working as a driver for C Schneider & Co., as a worker with Johnstone Coal Co.
He married Kathleen Martin in Stratford April 4, 1923, a widow with four children whose husband passed in the war. Together they had one daughter, Mary Elizabeth Smart, born April 13, 1924. He continued to work wherever he could, working as a driver and a teamster at Johnston & Son, with the CNR, as a Labourer, worker with the city.
Kathleen passed on May 31, 1932, when Mary was eight years old. Findlay was later remarried to Janet Elizabeth Neill in Stratford on August 6, 1938. They had two daughters, Shirley Neill Smart, born November 11, 1938, and Margaret Eileen Smart, born December 4, 1939.
He continued working as a driver at Johnston & Son, then as a worker at W J Thurston and the CNR. Later in his life, he worked as a porter at Queen’s and the Windsor Hotels in Stratford as a nightwatchman before his retirement. He was a member of the Canadian Legion Branch 8 Stratford, the Royal Black Preceptory, as well as the Orange Lodge in Wartburg and the Orange Order.
Findlay passed away December 10, 1951, at 71 years old in the Veterans Westminister Hospital, London, Ontario, and was buried in Avondale Cemetery, Stratford, Perth County.
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal