Smyth, George
Rifleman
No. 9001, 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Died in service on Wednesday 30 December 1914
Buried:
Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard, France (Grave I. A. 2)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
BIOGRAPHY
In some records, his surname is spelt Smith.
In the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Debt of Honour Website it is recorded that Rifleman George Smyth was the husband of E. Evans (formerly Smyth) of 6 George’s Street, Newtownards.
Rifleman George Smyth died on 30 December 1914 after the Christmas truce at a time when conditions in the waterlogged and muddy trenches were very bad.
William Evans (aged 26) was a Private in the 4th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers serving in Victoria Barracks, Belfast when he and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Smyth (nee McCallum) were married on 8 September 1915 in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland Church Belfast. William Evans was a son of Henry Evans, a fishmonger. Elizabeth Smyth (nee McCallum) was a daughter of John McCallum, a plater.
Elizabeth McCallum and George Smyth, a labourer, were married on 18 May 1901 in Holy Trinity Church of Ireland Church Belfast. George Smyth was a son of John Smyth, a labourer.
George and Elizabeth Smyth (nee McCallum) had at least three children:
Unnamed female child (born 29 August 1904 in Belfast Workhouse)
John (born 27 August 1906 at 42 Brougham Street, Belfast)
James (born 27 June 1913)