Geoffrey was the youngest of the four Smith boys.

Like his siblings he was educated at Eton until 1912, and also joined the 1st Coldstream Guards. After training as a cadet in the Officers Training Corps Geoffrey was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant (on probation) 15 April 1915.  

After further training in England Geoffrey was drafted to France, disembarking on 24 August 1915 just as the battalion was transferred to the Second Guards Brigade. He joined his battalion near Lumbres on 31 August. 

The men remained at Lumbres until 21 September, when they marched to new billets near Delette. It was noted in the war diary that all ranks were sorry to leave after a month. 

The next evening the battalion moved on again, marching to Rely, where they arrived at 11pm after what was described as: ‘...A most unpleasant march - pouring with rain - and behind the Grenadiers who have not yet learned to keep their tempers closed up.’  

After two more evening marches the battalion was close to Le Rutoire Farm on 27 September and at 3am marched to occupy the 1st and 2nd line German trenches opposite Lone Tree, where they dug themselves in. 

Later in the day, they attacked the nearby wood and chalk pit, which proved a difficult position to hold because of its prominent position.  There was tremendous shell fire on the wood and chalk pit the next day, and at 3.45pm, the men were ordered to attack and establish a line on the railway with two companies. 

Number 1 and Number 2 Companies advanced with their left on the Lens-La Basse Road. ‘They were met almost before they got out of the trenches by a terrific machine gun fire which enfiladed them from three sides...They were absolutely mown down.’

Fighting continued through to the next day, and the battalion suffered heavy casualties: 9 officers and at least 220 other ranks listed as casualties. Amongst the officers, 2nd Lieutenant Geoffrey Leveson Smith was listed as missing. 
 
Geoffrey’s body was never found, and it was accepted that he was killed in action on 29 September 1915 in the Battle of Loos. He is remembered with honour on the Loos Memorial. 

For his service to his country he earned the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Being a single man, his father was listed as his next of kin.  

Granville Roland Francis, Granville Keith Falconer and Geoffrey Leveson Ion are all remembered on the family memorial in the cloisters of Eton College, the Smith’s Bank memorial in the city of London, and on the memorial which was previously on the south wall of the old Guards Chapel, Birdcage Walk.