Remembering the Fallen: on this day in 1914, Lieutenant Geoffrey Dyett Abbott, 1st Battalion, the Connaught Rangers, was killed in action at Laventie in France.

He came from a military family, his father being the late Colonel Frank Abbott, 37th Lancers (Baluch Horse), and his grandfathers were Lieutenant-General H. D. Abbott and Major-General J. C. Berkeley. Lieutenant Abbott was educated at St. Augustine’s in Eastbourne, Sussex, and at Cheltenham College; and he attended the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Having been gazetted to the Connaught Rangers in March of 1911, he served with the 1st Battalion in India, and was promoted to Lieutenant In June of 1914. He arrived in France on the 26th September, 1914.

Officers who served with him compiled this account of the day of his death: “"A certain Indian Regiment being hard pressed, the nearest company to them of the Connaught Rangers (Abbott's) was sent to their assistance. The Company came under heavy fire at close range and lost seven killed and thirty-one wounded. Abbott was twice sent back and brought up reinforcements, being wounded the second time. When crossing for the third time to have his wound attended to, he was shot dead. A week previously his Company had had a night attack and captured three German trenches; becoming isolated, they had some difficulty in getting back. The senior Major wrote that Abbott had behaved with pluck and coolness in a critical situation. His Company received the congratulations of two general officers. It was also written that he held the admiration and affection of all his comrades, of his old Company (E) in particular, who would follow him anywhere." He is buried in the Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard at Laventie.

Geoffrey, born in Srinigar, Kashmir, in India where his father was serving at the time, was 23 years old.