Detail victim

Name SMITH
Initials GC
First name GEOFFREY CHOLERTON
Place of birth Wandsworth Common
Country England
Family Son of Alfred James and Mary Eleanor Smith, of 11, Magdalen Rd., Wandsworth Common, London.
Education Emmanuel School, Wandsworth Common, and Strand School, Brixton
Entered Sandhurst in April 1915

Place & date of enlistment August 1915
Rank Lieutenant
Medals M C
Regiment and unit 6th Squadron Royal Air Force (Flying Corps)
Other data related to military career Was gazetted to the Army Service Corps in August, 1915. He was sent to the front in September 1915, was attached to a French mortar battery in June 1916 and took part in the battle of the Somme. He was awarded the Military Cross for gallant conduct in an engagement, and was transferred to the R.F.C. January 1917.

Wounded 31 July; shot while flying with RE8 A111 over German lines at Messines; struck by ground machine gun fire and crashed behind the lines; the pilot Lt H J Snowden survived the crash but died of his wounds on 11th August, in a hospital in England;
Type of wounds Died of gunshot wounds chest, in n°3 Can CCS
Date of death 31 July 1917
Died at the age of 20
Grave reference Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery XIV - A - 10