George was born on 18th July 1892 at Burslem, Staffordshire. His parents were Herbert Smith, born c.1854 at Burslem, and Annie nee Bailey, born c.1857 at Burslem. Herbert and Annie were married on the 15th April 1876 at St John's Church, Burslem. They went on to have 12 children, all of whom were born in Burslem - Albert born 1876 died 1876, Mary born 1877, Sarah Ann born 1879, Maria born 1881, William born 1884 died 1888, Herbert born 1886, Annie born 1890, George born 1892, Emily (Emmie) born 1895, Minnie born 1898 died 1906, Florence(Florrie) born 1899 and Nellie born 1902 died 1903.  

The 1881 census shows Herbert Smith (27), Potter, and Annie (22) with small children Mary (3), Sarah (2) living at 59 New Road, Burslem, Staffordshire. They had a visitor, Sarah Warburton (19), married, working as a Potter. 

The 1891 census shows Herbert (37), a Potter Presser, Annie (34), a Potter Lathe Header, Mary (14), a Potter Sponger, Sarah (12) at school, Maria (10) at school, Herbert (5), and baby Annie living at 238 Jug Bank, Burslem, Staffordshire.

The 1901 census shows the Smith family living at 29 George Street, Burslem. Herbert (48) Hollowware Presser, Annie (44), Sarah ( 22) Potter Printer Transferer, Maria (19) Thimble Picker, Herbert (14) Packing House Pottery, Annie (11), George (8), Emily (6), Minnie (3), Florence (1). 

Herbert Smith died in 1902. He is buried in Burslem Cemetery plot 15742 with his children, William buried December 1888, Nellie buried June 1903, and Minnie buried March 1906. The burial plot also contains Florrie Cole, born to parents George Thomas Cole and Mary nee Smith in 1902, buried in September 1902. Mary Smith, born in 1877, went on to marry George Thomas Cole at Burslem on 29.05.1897.  Anne Edwards was also buried in the plot in March 1932. Annie Smith, widow of Herbert Smith, remarried Henry Edwards in 1919 and died aged 71. So Herbert is buried with his wife, children, and granddaughter. 

Maria Smith married Ernest Goodwin in 1905. 

By 1911, Annie was a 53-year-old widow and Head of the household at 15 William Street, Burslem. Living with Annie (21), single, Thimble Picker, George (18), single, Glost Placer, Emily (16), single, Transferrer, and Florence(11), scholar.

George Smith married Annie Day in 1913. The 1911 census shows her working as a Potter's Transferer living with her parents Edward and Mary Elizabeth Day, siblings Edward, Charles, and Lillian at 5 Forster Street, Burslem, Staffordshire. 

George is another soldier for whom we can find little information. We do know he was enlisted as 203438 Private George Smith and served with the 4th Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment. He was initially reported missing but presumed dead on the 29th September 1918.

On the day of his death, his battalion was moving to positions at Zandvoorde, southeast of Ypres, in the belief that the positions were in British hands. However, the opposite proved to be the case. The area was heavily defended by German forces. At 12.30 pm, the Cheshire Regiment launched an attack but was unsuccessful. At 3 pm, the 4th North Staffordshire Regiment was sent into the attack and was met by heavy machine gun fire, but bravely pushed home the attack, taking the position. During this brief period, the battalion suffered 20 killed, 143 wounded, and 4 missing. George must have been one of the 4 and his body was never recovered or was not identified.

WW1 pension cards tell us that his wife Annie is living at 11 Forster Street, Burslem. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission tells us his mother, Annie, was living at 4 Pitt Street, Burslem.

He earned the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

His death and remembrance are reported in the Staffordshire Sentinel dated 28th August 1919 and 29th September 1919, where it is also said that he had previously worked at Royal Doulton Burslem.

LOCAL CASUALTIES.

The following local soldiers, previously reported missing, are now reported to have been killed in action:-

Signaller George Smith, 4th North Staffords, of 11, Forster-Street, Burslem. He was 26 years of age, and before enlistment was employed by Messrs. Doulton, Burslem. He leaves a widow and two children.

Pte. J. Simcock, 10th Batt., Lincoln Regiment, brother of Mrs. Jones, 9, Derby-street, Hanley. He was 20 years of age, and before joining the Army in August, 1917, was employed by the Shelton Iron, Steel and Coal Company.

IN MEMORIAM.

SMITH-In loving memory of my dear husband, Signaller George Smith, 5th North Staffs. Regt. of 11, Forster-Street, Burslem, who died in France, September 29th, 1918. 

Upright and just in all his ways, Honest and faithful to the end of his days.

Sadly missed by his loving Wife and Children.

SMITH-In loving memory of our dear son-in-law, Signaller George Smith, 5th North Staffs. Regt., who died in France, September 29th, 1918.

Worthy of everlasting love and remembrance.

Ever remembered by his Mother-in-law, Father-in-law, Brothers-in-law, and Sisters-in-law.

We recognise that the original newspaper article says that Signaller George Smith was 5th North Staffs; we assume this to be an error, either of the Newspaper or the Family misinforming the Newspaper.   

He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial panel 124-125 and the Royal Doulton Kilngate Memorial.

The 1921 census shows widowed Annie Smith (28) living at 11 Forster Street, Burslem. She is employed as a Charwoman at the Middleport School. She has 2 sons, Arthur Smith, aged 4, born at Burslem, and Reginald Smith, aged 6, born at Burslem. (In fact, Arthur was born in 1913 and Reginald in 1915).  Also living with her as lodgers are Annie's brother Charles Day (21), a Waggoner at Sneyd Colliery, and his wife Florrie Day, a 20-year-old Potters Thrower. 

1934 widowed Annie Smith remarried William Wenlock, the 1939 register sees William Wenlock (28.02.1889) working as a Colliery Road man, Annie Wenlock (26.02.1891) Home Duties,  Arthur Smith (12.09.1913) single, working as a Potter Placer, Reginald Smith (27.04.1915) single working as a Haulage Lorry Driver Assistant living at 11 Forster Street Burslem. 

George's brother Herbert Smith also served as 180053 Private of the Machine Gun Corps. He was with a Staffordshire-based training battalion and did not serve overseas; therefore, he did not get awarded any medals. His service papers show his address as 4 Cromer Place, Maybank, Stoke-on-Trent. He was married to Sarah Ann nee Henney; they were married in 1909, it being registered in Wolstanton. They had 3 children, Elsie, Herbert, and Stanley, born in 1912.

SOURCES

• Smith/Bailey marriage. Indexes created from Anglican Parish Registers held at Staffordshire Record Office; Stafford, Staffordshire, England
• 1881 census Class: RG11; Piece: 2716; Folio: 158; Page: 13; GSU roll: 1341651
• 1891 census The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2165; Folio: 54; Page: 41; GSU roll: 6097275
• 1901 census Class: RG13; Piece: 2597; Folio: 163; Page: 44
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
• SENTINEL DATES 28.08.19 - 29.09.19
• NATIONAL ARCHIVES WO95/2488/3
• FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
• The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/12627, ED 13, Sch 105; Book: 12627
• The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/5282J
• https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/image/327180433/smith-george-page-1500-uk-wwi-british-army-medal-roll-index-cards-1914-1920?terms=smith%2C203438
• https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/file/645565389?terms=smith%2C203438
• https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/file/691481416?terms=smith%2C203438
• https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/record/736813299/smith-george-uk-nominal-index-of-all-service-personnel-serving-in-a-theatre-of-war-1914-1919
• https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/sub-image/619719361/smith-george-uk-british-army-registers-of-soldiers-effects-1901-1929?terms=smith%2C203438
• Staffordshire Burial Index  15742
• Staffordshire BMD HERBERT SMITH DEATH HAN/061/035
• Staffordshire BMD GEORGE SMITH BIRTH BUR/107/090
• Staffordshire BMD MARRIAGES HERBERT/ANNIE 3/6/189
• Staffordshire BMD BIRTHS HERBERT SMITH BUR/093/083
• https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/3065358/george-smith/ 
• https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19190828/055/0003