SMITH, George - Midmar (Aberdeenshire) War Memorial

[Seaton Smithy]

Hi all.  I'm not sure how I will go with this inquiry, but I am trying to find more information about the George Smith listed on the Memorial at Midmar in Aberdeenshire.

Pictures of the Memorial can be seen here: http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic2841.html .  I've tried registering with the site but it does not appear to be active.  George's details are not listed.

The letters after George's name appear to be S. G. and I think this is the Scots Guards?  It's a bit hard to distinguish Gs from Cs but this letter does seem to have a squarer "tail."  Could S. G. refer to another regiment or part of the services? 

The CWGC site lists two men from the Scots Guards who lost their lives:

George Thomas Smith 11846 appears to have been born in Yorkshire and seems unlikely to be the one on the Midmar Memorial.

The Soldier's Effects record for George Alexander Smith 9294 has references to father William and sister Marion. This appears to be the George Alexander Smith born in Fintray in 1894.  However, on the 1901 and 1911 census this family is in Nairn, and I can't see an obvious reason why he would be the one on the Midmar Memorial.

There does not appear to be a George Smith on the Nairn memorial.

There does not appear to be a George Smith living in Midmar in 1911.  There is a George Smith living in nearby Cluny aged 42, and although you might expect he would (if it was actually him) appear on the Cluny memorial, my Cluny & Midmar relatives moved back and forth regularly.  There appears to be no George Smith in either Midmar or Cluny in 1901.

Any assistance with identifying the George Smith on the Midmar Memorial would be gratefully appreciated.

[Rosinish]

Hi,

I don't know anything about Military/Memorials etc. but...

What I did observe was anyone with a middle name was recorded as such with their middle initial i.e. I would envisage that the George Alexander Smith you are seeking is not the one listed from that aspect?

I may be wrong with my thought but I'm sure someone with more knowledge may be able to help.

I would agree though that 'S. G.' would be Scots Guards.

Annie

[steviebyday]

   Pte 9294  George alexander smith,
   born cothall Aberdeen 1894, attestation scots guards  17-8-1914 occupation gardener,
   K.I.A  2/1/1915 France.
   

[Seaton Smithy]

What I did observe was anyone with a middle name was recorded as such with their middle initial

I agree that middle initials would be recorded if they were known. 

Those are the only two casualties I found for George Smith from the Scots Guards.

[Seaton Smithy]

   Pte 9294  George alexander smith,
   born cothall Aberdeen 1894, attestation scots guards  17-8-1914 occupation gardener,
   K.I.A  2/1/1915 France.

Could I just clarify?  Are you confirming that this is the man on the Midmar Memorial?  Or just providing details for George Alexander Smith 9294?

[steviebyday]

no,  just confirming that this man is from Aberdeen 

[MaxD]

As you've seen, the difficulty is that his service record which may confirm the Midmar connection, has not survived the WW2 bombing.

However, in common with the other Guards regiments, the Scots Guards kept their own records so you may like to apply to the archivist for 9294 Gdsm GA Smith who, I would agree, is the more likely of the two men. http://scotsguards.org/history/archives/

MaxD

[dowdstree]

There is a much better photograph of the War Memorial at Midmar if you google War Memorials Online and enter Midmar in the search box. This definitely has the initials SG after his name.

A personal observation regarding why he is recorded here could be the fact that, if you have the correct George Smith who was born in Fintray,  it is only about 14 or so miles from Midmar.

I say this because I have a distant cousin who is recorded on the War Memorial in the place of his birth rather than where the family moved to.

Good luck with your research.

Dorrie

[MaxD]

I hadn't been able to see the memorial via the first link but Dorrie's guidance did the trick.  I'd agree that it is SG for Scots Guards and would urge contact with the Scots Guards.

MaxD