George Smith

RankCaptain George Smith
Medals1914 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Mentioned in Despatches
RegimentGordon Highlanders, 6th (Banff and Donside) Battalion
Military Service

1914 At the outbreak of war the battalion was stationed at Keith.  In November it proceeded to France and joined the 20th Brigade, 7th Division on 5th December.

1915 January and February were spent either in the trenches or in Divisional Reserve at Sailly, south west of Armentieres.  The battalion moved further south in preparation for the British attack round Neuve Chapelle which started on the 10th March.  The 6th Gordons were heavily involved in the attack which took place on the 13th March.  The Commanding Officer was killed about 7.30am and command of the battalion fell to Captain Cook.  He sent Captain Smith to Brigade HQ to report Colonel McLean’s death and to verify the orders for attack.  Smith returned and confirmed that the battalion was to attack at 9.30am which it did.  Nothing further of the fate of Captain Smith is recorded in the battalion war diary.

Born

2nd January 1871 Glasgow

Death13th March 1915
Circumstances of Death

Killed in action at Neuve Chapelle.  His body was either never found or never identified.

Age44
MemorialLe Touret Memorial, Panel 39 to 41
CWGC Information

Son of George and Mary Workman Smith, of Glenmorag, Dunoon, Argyllshire; husband of Kathleen Marion Workman Smith, of Pittodrie, Pitcaple, Aberdeenshire.

Parents

George Smith (1845-1899) and Mary Workman (1845-1883)

Father's Occupation

Shipowner – City Line

Siblings

Robert (1880-1957)

Spouse

Kathleen Workman (d.1964), married 1896

2 children – George b1898, and Kathleen b 1901

Education

Not known

Occupation

Gentleman

1871 Census

Not found

1881 Census

3 Claremont Terrace, Glasgow

1891 Census

Not found

1901 Census

Glenmorag House, Kilbride Road, Dunoon

1911 Census

Not found

Glasgow NecropolisCompartment Epsilon Lair 252
Other Memorials

Scottish National War Memorial

Roll of Honour Ancient Order of Foresters, Court Donside No 6770

Other Information

In 1901 the City Line was sold to Messrs Ellerman and in 1903 George Smith bought the estate of Pittodrie, Aberdeenshire.  He was a councillor on Aberdeen County Council and twice stood for Parliament for the Unionists in West Aberdeenshire.  He was a vice-president of the Royal Northern Agricultural Society.

He left £278,557 in Scotland at his death.

Acknowledgements and Sources

Much of the information on which this profile is based is drawn from various internet sources which are listed below.  The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis also wish to make full acknowledgement and thanks for the permitted use of any information or images generously supplied specifically for exhibition, publication or display in connection with The Roll of Honour and accompanying profiles to Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk), Findmypast (www.findmypast.co.uk)

Commonwealth War Graves Commission – www.cwgc.org

Family Search – www.familysearch.org

The Long, Long Trail – http://www.1914-1918.net/

Scotlands People – www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

The Scottish War Memorials Project – www.warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com

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Credits

Compiled by Morag Fyfe, Historical and Genealogical Researcher for The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis.

 
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