Smith, William George Rae
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment: King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Biography: Son of Charles Smith, merchant, Aberdeen ; born Aberdeen, 5 July 1889; educated at the Grammar School ; student in Agriculture, 1904-05, and 1908-09. Between these years he was for some time in New Zealand sheep farming, and while still very young did some exploring and trading in New Guinea and the South Sea Islands. Later he led a small expedition through Patagonia, his report on this journey was published in the Magazine of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. After his second period as a student in Agriculture he carried on stock farming in Rhodesia. He was an enthusiastic member of the Legion of Frontiersmen, of which he acted for a time as Commandant for Scotland, and raised companies in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. On the outbreak of war he hurried home from Rhodesia and was in rapid succession a member of a New Zealand Corps, an ambulance driver on the Belgian Front, and a horse artilleryman. In February 1915 he obtained a commission in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry with which, and the 21st Divisional Cyclists, he served till his adventurous and crowded life was ended on 26 January 1916 while he was carrying back a wounded comrade after a bombing raid. For his conduct on this occasion he was mentioned in dispatches. He might have been on leave at the time he was killed but wrote home, "What's the good of leave if you haven't done something worth while?" So he sought honour in another gallant adventure and met death.
Date of Death: 26 January 1916
Burial Details: Buried at Cité Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentières, Plot 9, Row E, Grave 41.
Publication: Roll of Service, edited by Mabel Desborough Allardyce. Published 1921.
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