George Brenton Laurie George Brenton Laurie ( 1867 - 1915 ) was a Nova Scotian army officer and author who distinguished himself in both the Boer War and the First World War , In the latter war he was killed in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle . General Sir John Keir , K . C . B . ) , said of him “ I learnt to appreciate his value as a soldier and his many other sterling qualities . … His name remains one held in honour for all time . ” Early years . Colonel Laurie was born at Halifax , Nova Scotia , on October 13 , 1867 and raised in Oakfield , Nova Scotia . At age 17 , Laurie received his first commission in the Royal Irish Rifles in September , 1885 , and joined the 2nd Battalion , then quartered at Halifax . Colonel Laurie wrote in the his History of the Irish Rifles Regiment , that the regiment experience Halifax as a “ delightful station , and all were sorry to leave it . ” He went with them to Gibraltar ( November , 1886 ) , and on to Egypt ( January , 1888 ) . In 1889 Lieutenant Laurie went up the Nile with the battalion . Boar War . In 1901 , Laurie was in command of a mounted infantry battalion for the Boer War . He fought in the Transvaal , Orange River Colony , and Cape Colony . He was mentioned in Despatches for his services ( London Gazette , July 29 , 1902 ) , also receiving the Queen ' s Medal with five clasps . ( Colonel Laurie ' s elder brother , Captain Haliburton Laurie , who was one of the most deservedly loved men of his generation , fell in the Boer War in 1901 . Capt . Haliburton Laurie fell in the South African War at Philippolis , on a kopje , while rescuing a wounded patrol . ) World War 1 . First Battle of Ypres . During WW1 , he went to France in November 1914 with the Irish Rifles and participated in the First Battle of Ypres . On November 21 , 1914 , he wrote from the tenches : Again , from the trenches on December 18 , 1914 he wrote , Christmas 1914 . He also wrote about the momentary peace at Christmas . From the trenches he wrote on Christmas Day 1914 , Two days later on December 27 he wrote , They spent the winter in the trenches , taking their share in the fierce fighting in December . Battle of Neuve Chapelle . On March 10 , 1915 , Laurie took part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle , and were the first battalion to reach the village . He was the first man who charged into Neuve Chapelle . About 7 . 30 one of the soldiers reported : “ there began the biggest bombardment I have ever heard — our big guns roared out . I thought hell had been let loose . I tried to look before me , but could see nothing but flame and smoke , and the roars of the big guns were terrible . In about an hour ' s time our Colonel gave us the word to fix bayonets and charge for the German trenches . On Friday evening , March 12th , a fresh assault was ordered . Laurie rallied his exhausted men , and , calling out " Follow me ! I will lead you ! " he sprang over the parapet , revolver in hand . A moment later he fell shot through the head . He was buried with his fallen officers and men in a garden near Neuve Chapelle . During this war he was twice Mentioned in Despatches ( Gazette , January 14 , 1915 ; and after his death , May 31 , 1915 ) . Family . He born to Lieut . - General John Wimburn Laurie , C . B . , M . P . , of 47 , Porchester Terrace , London , and Mrs . Laurie , of Oakfield , Nova Scotia ( She lived in Nova Scotia after her husband died and while George was in WW1 ) . He was grandson of the Hon . Enos Collins , M . L . C . , of Gorse Brook , Halifax , and great - grandson of Sir Brenton Halliburton , Chief Justice of Nova Scotia . He married , in September , 1905 , Florence Clementina Vere Skeffington , eldest daughter of the late Hon . Sydney William Skeffington , and left three children — George Haliburton , born August , 1906 ; Blanche , born 1907 ; and Sydney Vere , born 1910 . His father was given a coffee pot by Dr . Inglis which was a precious heirloom in Colonel Laurie ' s family . There is a brass tablet to the memory of Dr . Inglis in St . Patrick ' s Cathedral , erected there by the enthusiasm of Chancellor H . V . White , Rector of St . Bartholomew ' s , whose own ministry was for some years in the Colonies . References . Endnotes Texts