Saddler - Corporal George Henry Smith

Reg No; 760656
‘A’ Battery 317th Bde.
Royal Field Artillery

Died November 30th 1917.
Remembered with Honour at
Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery
St. Andrews Church Dalton-le-Dale
Murton Cenotaph

George Henry Smith born Hetton Downs 1881, lived at 63 Princess Street Murton Colliery with his Parents Robert and Elizabeth two Sisters Margaret and Elizabeth

June 21st 1902 George Henry married Elizabeth Smith of Murton Colliery, at St Andrews Church Dalton le Dale. In 1911 they resided at 11 Dunelm Terrace, Dalton le Dale, they had no children

George worked at Murton Colliery as a hewer, and enlisted at Seaham Harbour as a Saddler in the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery

The original 3rd Northumbrian [County of Durham] RFA had two batteries Seaham Harbour and one at Hartlepool. There was also an ammunition column at Seaham

As a Saddler he was responsible for ensuring the medium calibre guns and howitzers were deployed close to the front line.

Duhallow ADS contains the graves of 1602 soldiers. Also buried here is Private John Seymour who was executed on Jan 24th 1918 for being absent from roll call on Nov 27th 1817. He was known to suffer from ‘nerves’ and was executed partially to set an example to his battalion’s 300 new recruits.