Lieutenant-Colonel G.M. Bullen-Smith
2nd Bn., Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians)

… his departure, followed by that of Lieutenant-Colonel Bullen-Smith, left scarcely any of the officer who had landed with the Battalion in September, 1914. Death had claimed his due as he had done from other units in the field; many had been so severely wounded as to be unfit for further service in the field; and the ever-growing national army drained off the few remaining Regular officers from their own units.

(Witton, The History of the Prince of Wales’s Leinster Regiment, vol. 2, 224)

Born in India on 5 February 1870, George Moultrie Bullen-Smith attended Sandhurst and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1891. He was appointed to The Black Watch before being exchanged for another officer in the Leinster Regiment in 1894. When the 2nd Leinsters went to France in September 1914, Bullen-Smith was second-in-command. He became acting battalion commander following the wounding of Lieutenant-Colonel W.T.M. Reeve on 19 November 1914.

According to Second Lieutenant Frank Hitchock, in June 1915, “Colonel Reeve suddenly and unexpectedly appeared on parade, and B-S hastily departed to cut off his two stars from his cuffs. We were all exceedingly sorry for him.” Bullen-Smith’s disappointment would not last long. Within a month, the one-handed Reeve was declared medical unfit for frontline duty.

Aside from sick leave in September/October 1915, and temporary command of the 73rd Brigade in April 1916, Bullen-Smith led the 2nd Leinsters until 15 May 1916. He was succeeded by Major R.A.H. Orpen-Palmer when promoted to command the 5th Infantry Brigade. Bullen-Smith remained in this position until April 1918 when he returned to England.

He died at the Isle of Wight on 6 November 1934.

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