World War 1
Search the known records to date of those lost from the wider Alnwick area in World War 1
Generally showing where they are commemorated, when they died and some basic facts about each person. There are gaps, however, so if you can fill in any missing details do please contact us.
John Lawson-Smith, MD
Forename(s):
John
Surname:
Lawson-Smith, MD
Initial(s):
J
Service Number:
Officer
Rank:
Lieutenant
Regiment:
Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), 1st Battalion
Died:
20/10/1914
Aged:
22
Buried:
Le Touret Memorial (Le Touret Military Cemetery)
Service History:
Gazetted 2nd Lieutenant, West Yorkshire Regiment, 3 September 1913 & promoted Lieutenant in October 1914.
Went to France in September 1914, & was killed in action near Bois Grenier, 20-12 October following.
Lawson-Smith was mentioned in Field Marshall Sir John (later Lord) French's Despatch of 20 November 1914 ('London Gazette', 17 February 1915), for gallant & distinguished service in the field.
(Source: 'UK, De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-18'; Part 1; p. 333)
Background:
Born on 24 March 1892, at Colton, the son of Edward Maule Lawson-Smith, of Colton Lodge, Tadcaster, Yorkshire, B.A., J.P., by his wife, Ethel Mary, daughter of the late General Sir William Davies.
Educated at Warren Hill, Eastbourne; Stubbington (Foster's); Royal Naval College, Osborne (Cadet 1902-03); Repton; & the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
(Source: 'UK, De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-18'; Part 1; p. 333)
The National Probate Calendar (available via Ancestry.co.uk) records Probate having been granted in London on 24 March 1915 to Edward Maule Lawson-Smith for Effects valued at £38. There's also a separate entry for Probate granted at Llandudno on 15 September 1943 to Hugh Leslie Creer, Chartered Accountant, & Ernest Gilmore Harvey, Solicitor, for Effects valued at £2,200-14s-0d.
One of two sons lost: see, also, Lieutenant Thomas Edward Lawson-Smith (13th Hussars, attached to the 11th [Prince Albert's Own] Hussars; Died 1 November 1914).
The land on which the Amble War Memorial stands was given by Edward Maule Lawson-Smith, second son of Reverend Edward Lawson of Longhirst. This land, which was part of a large estate at Amble & Togston, was inherited by him in 1862 from his ancestor, Mr. G. T. Smith. In 1880 Edward Lawson also adopted the Smith surname. His two sons are mentioned on the memorial dedication panel, they were killed within 12 days of each other in 1914.
(Source: 'In Memory of the Fallen: Amble & surrounding area'; Compiled by Jane Dargue, Jim Donnelly & Helen Lewis; 2014; p. 14)
Local Memorial:
Amble War Memorial