George Lawrence Enoch Lotinga Smith

George Lawrence Enoch Lottinga Smith was born in 1893 in Nottingham, the only son of George Henry a postal superintendent and Laura Mary Smith née Lotinga of Woodside Gedling, Nottingham. George Henry was born in 1862 in Nottingham, Laura Mary Lotinga was born in 1858 at Northshields married in 1886 at Nottingham in 1911 the family are living at Waterhouse Lane, Gedling , George is 51 yrs and a postal superintendent and George Lawrence is 17 yrs and a bank clerk.

He was Boys' Brigade officer with the 12th Nottingham Company, Boys' Brigade based at Mansfield Road Baptist Church. GLE Lotinga-Smith worked in the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Bank as a clerk. A prize for Religious Studies in his name is awarded at Nottingham High School Prize Giving, presumably endowed by his parents after his death.

Second Lieutenant George Smith joined the Royal Fusiliers in December 1915 and was commissioned in the Northumberland Fusiliers in January 1917. He served in France from 17th March 1917. He is buried in Dickebusch New Military Cemetery Extension (grave ref II.E.24), the same cemetery as the former commanding officer of 10th Northumberland Fusiliers, Lieutenant-Colonel Wigram who was killed in action on 20th June 1917.

The Nottingham Guardian recorded the news of the death of Second Lieutenant G L Smith (he seems to have dropped using the Lotinga, perhaps because it sounded too German) on Thursday 26th July 1917 and it gives a brief obituary. In December 1915 he joined the Royal Fusiliers. His promotion was rapid and, after a course in a Cadet Corps he was given a commission in the Northumberland Fusiliers in January last (1917, presumably), proceeding to France two months later. During the previous few weeks he had been engaged in special duties with the Royal Engineers. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 24 July 1917: ‘Smith. Killed in action, on the 19th inst., George Laurence Smith, Second-Lieut., Northumberland Fusiliers, in his 24th years, only son of GH and LM Smith, Woodside, Gedling, Notts.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 25 July 1917: ‘Smith. Killed in action, on the 19th inst., George Laurence Smith, Second-Lieut., Northumberland Fusiliers, in his 24th year, only son of GH and LM Smith, Woodside, Gedling, Notts.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) An article published on 26th July 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “KILLED. SECOND-LIEUT. G. L. SMITH. “Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Smith, of Woodside, Gedling, have received an intimation from the Secretary of State for War of the death of their son, Second-Lieut. G. L. Smith, Northumberland Fusiliers. Educated at the Nottingham High School he entered the service of the Nottingham and Notts. Bank as a junior, and in December, 1915, joined the Royal Fusiliers. His promotion was rapid, and after a course in a Cadet corps, he was given a commission in the Northumberland Fusiliers in January last and proceeded to France two months later. During the past few weeks he had been engaged on special duty with the Royal Engineers.” In memoriam published 18th July 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “SMITH. – In proud and ever-cherished memory of George Laurence E. F. Lotinga Smith, 2nd Lieut., Northumberland Fusilers, killed in action at Zillebeke, July 19th, buried at Dickebusch July 20th, 1917, dearly-loved only child of George H. and Laura M. Smith, Woodland, Gedling. Pro Deo, pro patria.” Above article and in memoriam are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 His parents met part of the cost of restoring the west door of All Hallows church, Gedling, in memory of their son; the doorway was dedicated on 7 February 1918.