Lives of the First World War

The following is an extract from the above publication - Private J. Smith, Black Watch - Private John G. Smith, 1st Black Watch, 41 St Mary Street, Arbroath, thirty-four years of age, was a son of Charles Smith, Seaman, 16 Millgate Loan. He married Charlotte Emma Wood, and left two sons. He had been eight years in the army and was a reservist in the Black Watch, which he had joined shortly before the South African War. He served all through that campaign, and concluded an honourable record of service by having awarded to him the South Africa 1901-02 medal, and the medal with four bars for engagements in the Transvaal, Orange Free State and Cape Colony. At the time he was mobilised for active service, Private Smith was employed with Messrs W. Briggs & Sons, Ltd., at their chemical works, Elliot. He was recalled to the colours on the day that war was declared with Germany, and was among the first to go to France. He took part inthe first encounters which British troops had with the enemy, and was killed on the 15th of September 1914 during the memorable retreat from Mons.

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