On the 28th of July 1918 a soldier was killed near Buzancy in France. 
A few days later a cairn was laid by the French to mark the body of
the furthest advanced soldier in the battle of days ago. The soldier
was from 4/5 Battalion Black Watch- who was the soldier?

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 17 Mar 2006 09:30 PST

Dear cwe-ga;

I?m posting this for the time being for your approval because but the
details appear to differ a bit from what you suggested. Records
indicate that the name of the soldier was Pvt. George Smith. Here is
what is known (which is surprisingly detailed given the amount of time
that has passed since the war):

?Smith, George. b. c.1891. Private. No. S/8050. 8th Bn, Seaforth
Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, the Duke of Albany's). British. Born in
Grays, Essex, enlisted Southend. The 8th Bn, formed part of 15th
Scottish Division attached to the French Third Army in 1918. Killed in
action on Sunday, 28th July 1918, age 27, in Buzancy during the Second
Battle of the Marne and is buried in Buzancy Military Cemetery, Aisne,
France. (I.E.6) "Here the noble thistle of Scotland will flourish for
ever among the roses of France" (17th (French) Division to 15th
(Scottish) Division). The monument was erected on the highest point of
the plateau, where we found the body of the Scottish soldier who had
advanced the farthest (on July 28th, 1918 - Buzancy). He was the son
of Mr and Mrs H. Smith of South Ockendon, Essex.?

ROLL OF HONOR
http://www.fettes.com/scotsatwar/rollofhonour2.htm

Here is a photo of Smith in uniform:
PRIVATE GEORGE SMITH, 15th DIVISION, KILLED ON THE 28th JULY 1918
http://batmarn2.club.fr/georgesmi.htm

Here you will find some photos of the memorial that marks where
Smith?s body was found:

BUZANCY MILITARY CEMETERY
http://www.webmatters.net/cwgc/buzancy_mil.htm

WESTERN FRONT
http://www.westernfront.co.uk/thegreatwar/articles/photos/large/aisne24.jpg

While this information appears to answer your question I hesitate to
post it until you approve. There is some corroborating information so
please let me know if this is acceptable:

?The cemetery also shelters a Memorial to the 15th (Scottish) Division
which is unusual in that it was built in August 1918 by the engineers
of the French 17th Division on the orders of General Gassouin, the
divisional GOC. A simple stone in a pyramid shape has a thistle as its
only decoration and the inscription "Ici fleurira toujours le glorieux
chardon d'Ecosse parmi les roses de la France." (Here the glorious
thistle of Scotland will flower forever among the roses of France.)
The French General wrote to his Scottish counterpart: "this monument
was erected on the highest point of the plateau where we found the
body of the Scottish soldier who had advanced the farthest." (See
'France and Belgium 1918 vol. 3', Appendix XVII for a full
transcription of this letter.)?
THE MARNE 1914 AND 1918 - SOME SITES JUST SOUTH OF SOISSONS
http://www.fylde.demon.co.uk/charles19.htm

Please let me know if this suffices even though it is not necessarily
consistent with information you had.

Tutuzdad-ga

---

Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 18 Mar 2006 16:07 PST

I'm wondering if you've had a chance to examine the information I've
proposed as an answer. Looking forward to hearing from you.

tutuzdad-ga

Dear cwe-ga;

Having conducted extensive follow-up research and having found no
contrary information or other historic record disputing the
information I mentioned in my earlier post, I am convinced that George
Smith is indeed the soldier you are referring to. I am officially
re-posting the information here as an answer based on my confidence
that the information is correct:

?Smith, George. b. c.1891. Private. No. S/8050. 8th Bn, Seaforth
Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, the Duke of Albany's). British. Born in
Grays, Essex, enlisted Southend. The 8th Bn, formed part of 15th
Scottish Division attached to the French Third Army in 1918. Killed in
action on Sunday, 28th July 1918, age 27, in Buzancy during the Second
Battle of the Marne and is buried in Buzancy Military Cemetery, Aisne,
France. (I.E.6) "Here the noble thistle of Scotland will flourish for
ever among the roses of France" (17th (French) Division to 15th
(Scottish) Division). The monument was erected on the highest point of
the plateau, where we found the body of the Scottish soldier who had
advanced the farthest (on July 28th, 1918 - Buzancy). He was the son
of Mr and Mrs H. Smith of South Ockendon, Essex.?

ROLL OF HONOR
http://www.fettes.com/scotsatwar/rollofhonour2.htm

Here is a photo of Smith in uniform:
PRIVATE GEORGE SMITH, 15th DIVISION, KILLED ON THE 28th JULY 1918
http://batmarn2.club.fr/georgesmi.htm

Here you will find some photos of the memorial that marks where
Smith?s body was found:

BUZANCY MILITARY CEMETERY
http://www.webmatters.net/cwgc/buzancy_mil.htm

WESTERN FRONT
http://www.westernfront.co.uk/thegreatwar/articles/photos/large/aisne24.jpg

?The cemetery also shelters a Memorial to the 15th (Scottish) Division
which is unusual in that it was built in August 1918 by the engineers
of the French 17th Division on the orders of General Gassouin, the
divisional GOC. A simple stone in a pyramid shape has a thistle as its
only decoration and the inscription "Ici fleurira toujours le glorieux
chardon d'Ecosse parmi les roses de la France." (Here the glorious
thistle of Scotland will flower forever among the roses of France.)
The French General wrote to his Scottish counterpart: "this monument
was erected on the highest point of the plateau where we found the
body of the Scottish soldier who had advanced the farthest." (See
'France and Belgium 1918 vol. 3', Appendix XVII for a full
transcription of this letter.)?
THE MARNE 1914 AND 1918 - SOME SITES JUST SOUTH OF SOISSONS
http://www.fylde.demon.co.uk/charles19.htm


I hope you find that my answer exceeds your expectations. If you have
any questions about my research please post a clarification request
prior to rating the answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating and your
final comments and I look forward to working with you again in the
near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher



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