Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres | II. A. 41. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.128 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 41C GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Born in Ceylon in 1883. Husband of Mrs. Elizabeth Jessie Lavie (nee Gairdner), of Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand. They had three children together: Philip Henry and Gwendoline. George had been a sheep farmer in South Canterbury, where he had also served in the South Canterbury Mounted Rifles. At the time of his enlistment he worked for the “Littleton Times” newspaper. He was a tall, active man, much involved in the life of the community. He was captain of the Sumner Branch of the Royal Life-Saving Society and a member of the Sumner Rowing Club.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F. |
| Action : Actions in Spring 1916 |
Actions in Spring 1916 covers a number of non specific actions on the Western Front in the period February to the end of June 1916. Much of this period concerned the build up to the Battle of the Somme, particularly the acclimatisation of the Service Battalions (Kitchener Volunteers) to trench routine. As the Battle of the Somme occupied the plans for 1916 no significant efforts were made in other sectors. Many of the casualties could be considered 'routine'. During the period December to June 1916 5845 British soldiers died in 'minor trench operations'.
Detail :
6/2895 Lieutenant George Sissmore Lavie, Canterbury Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
George enlisted on the 8th May, 1915 at Trentham, and was first posted to the 2nd Battalion of the Canterbury Regiment in Egypt as part of the Suez Campaign against troops of the Ottoman Empire. He took part in machine-gun training. In early 1916, these troops were disbanded and most of the NZEF left for the Western Front to fight against the Germans, but George went further north in Egypt to Moascar, where the fight against the Ottomans continued. He was promoted to Lieutenant there on March 1916.From Egypt, he re-joined his unit in France at Armentieres on the 18th of May 1916.
He was killed in action on the 11th of June 1916 at Somme, and is buried in the Cite Bonjean Cemetery, Armentieres, France.
An article about George appears in FOR KING AND EMPIRE. SUN, VOLUME III, ISSUE 735, 19 JUNE 1916:
"KILLED IN ACTION. LIEUTENANT G. S. LAVIE. Advice has been received of the death of Lieutenant George Sissmore Lavie, of Christchurch, who was killed in action on Sunday, June 11. He was the son of the late Henry G. Lavie, a coffee planter in Ceylon, and was a grandson of Sir Thomas Lavie, who was also an army man. He was born at Ceylon, and educated at Bedford Grammar School, and afterwards in Switzerland, where he studied engineering. Lieutenant Lavie then came to New Zealand, where he took up land, first at Geraldine, then at Waimate, and later at West Eyreton. He had a severe illness at the latter place, and had to relinquish farming pursuits. He took up his residence at Sumner, and was for some time on the staff of Blackburn and Smith, Christchurch. : Lieutenant Lavie was an active [member of the Sumner Bowing Club, of the Sumner Life Boat Brigade, of which he was second lieutenant, and : of the Sumner Life-saving Society, of which he was captain. He was also one of the first members of the Sumner-Redcliff's unit of the C.D.C., and was elected a sergeant. Lieutenant Lavie was a most active and valued member of these local bodies. He went into the officers' training camp in April of last year, and left New 'Zealand in October. He was ' accorded a big farewell gathering at Sumner prior to leaving. Lieutenant Lavie was greatly esteemed by his men, and by widow and two children, who live in Fendalton Road. Mrs Lavie has long 'been one of the most ardent Red Cross workers in Christchurch. : Lieutenant Lavie's widowed mother "resides in England. His only brother, Major H. K. Lavie, is fighting with an Indian regiment."
A memorial service was held for Lieutenant Lavie at All Saint’s Church, Sumner. In a letter to Mrs Lavie, Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart stated that “His loss will be felt very keenly by all of us. He was most popular with his men and the other officers; very well liked and very much respected.”
His service is commemorated on the Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph and the New Zealand War Graves Project.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | St. Albans No. 2597 E.C. | New Zealand (South Island) |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
25th July 1913 | 22nd August 1913 | 26th September 1913 |
Inner Guard
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley