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3rd Cameron Highlanders, eldest son of Mr. A. D. Smith-Sligo, of Inzievar, Oakley, Fifeshire, was born in 1887, and came to Downside in September, 1903, with his younger brother, Ronald. He left the School in July, 1907, for Exeter College, Oxford, and after taking his degree received a commission in the Cameron Highlanders, Special Reserve Battalion. On the outbreak of war he went to the front with his regiment, and saw much fighting ; on September 14th, his twenty-seventh birthday, he was twice wounded at the battle of the Aisne, and was at first reported as "wounded and missing." For some time it was hoped that he might have been picked up by a German ambulance, but nothing further was heard of him, and information received from his brother officers soon left no reasonable doubt as to his death. The following details are taken, with permission, from a letter written by his father ; the captain referred to in the extract being Captain D. N. C. Capel Miers (O.G.) :— "George's name, as you know, appeared in the casualty list of the Cameron Highlanders as "wounded and missing," at the battle of the Aisne on September 14th. In this fight our men advanced a long way and won much ground from the Germans, but at the close had to retire about 400 or 500 yards and entrench. From letters, written by George's captain, we learned that he had been twice hit, in the arm and leg, that he had not retired at the end, and that he had done 'awfully well.' Captain Miers also said that a burial party of the South Wales Borderers had been over the ground and had not found him, and that he hoped a German ambulance might have picked him up. Today (November 18th) I have a letter from an officer who was badly wounded the same day, and who lay on the ground for three days before being picked up. He says that he was told that George got up and advanced to take prisoner some Germans who had raised the white flag. The latter waited until he was quite near and then shot him. He also says it was commonly believed in the regiment that he was killed." Source : Downside In The War 1914-1919 |