258840 Pte. George Smallman British Army 7th (Fife) Battalion Black Watch from:Scremerston, Berwick upon Tweed (d.21st March 1918) George enlisted with the 7th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers as a Territorial at the beginning of WW1. After being stationed at coastal defences in south-east Northumberland his battalion was sent to France landing on 21st of April 1915 where they became part of the 149th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division. Within six days of landing in France his battalion took part in the 2nd Battle of Ypres and were involved in the attack on St. Julian where they suffered enormous casualties. Of the 1200 men who part in his battalion, 800 were either killed or injured.
His battalion continued to operate in the Ypres Salient and were involved in several battles including those at Hooge, Wulverghem, Armentieres and Hill 60 which was a few miles south of Ypres. His local newspaper, The Berwick Advertiser, reported in May 1916 that George was home on leave after being wounded on three separate occasions. It is assumed that George was sent to a holding depot, after he'd recovered and sent to join the 7th Battalion, Black Watch.
George saw more action with the Black Watch and was involved in the First Battle of Cambrai in northeast France, between the 20th - 27th November 1917, where large numbers of tanks were used for the first time in battle. It appears that George was wounded again on the 29th of December 1917 as his local newspaper reported in January 1918 that he had just come out of hospital again after being wounded two times while serving with the Black Watch.
George was killed near Bapaume, along with thousands of other men, during theSecond Battle of the Somme on or after the 21st March 1918. George has no known grave however is name is remembered, but wrongly inscribed as John Smallman, at the Faubourg-d'Amien Cemetery at Arras.
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