Julian Missenden Smeathman was born in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire on Christmas Eve 1887. He was the second son of Lovel and Frances Ann, and along with his younger brother Cecil, Julian fell on 24th October 1914. His older brother Lovel Francis, was wounded on active service with 1st Bn. Hertfordshire Regiment but, survived the Great War.

Julian received his early education at Lockers Park School, Hemel Hempstead before entering Rugby School in 1902. Three years later, choosing a military career, Julian was admitted to the Royal Military Academy (RMA), Woolwich as an officer cadet in 1905. After a course of training at Chatham and Newcastle-on-Tyne, he received an appointment at the War Office and obtained his commission on 23rd July 1907 as 2nd Lieutenant with 55th Field Company, Royal Engineers.

In 1910 he was sent to South Africa and stationed in Pretoria and whilst there, he was promoted Lieutenant. He returned to England on several occasions, including early 1911, when he was at his parent’s home South Hill House, Hemel Hempstead, along with his brothers Lovel and Cecil.

Julian took his last official leave in November 1913 and only returned to Hemel once more when the 55th Field Company was recalled from South Africa on the outbreak of war to join the 7th Infantry Division. On his return to England he married Gladys Monica Browne in the New Forest, Hampshire in early October 1914 where his Division had assembled. Julian and Gladys then spent four short days in Hemel Hempstead before he embarked for Belgium on 7th October. His married life with Gladys was tragically short and like many widowed in the Great War, Gladys never re-married. She died in Exeter in 1960 aged seventy-two.

Once in Belgium his company was immediately ordered to assist in the defence of Antwerp however, the city was already falling. Instead, 55th Field Company was ordered to hold certain strategically important places that would assist the evacuation of the Belgian army. Once the Belgians were through, the Division moved westwards, and entrenched in front of Ypres, the first British troops to occupy the sector.

The First Battle of Ypres began on 19th October 1914 and the Division fought the advancing German army to a standstill at "Wipers" as it became known to the allied soldiers. It was during the second stage of Ypres at the Battle of Langemarck from 21–24 October that Julian died, one of the 7,960 British soldiers killed in the 1st Battle of Ypres.

Following his death his Colonel wrote: " His death has been a great blow to us. His Captain had previously told me that he was the best Subaltern he had ever had, and that he could not wish for a better [one]. I, too, had remembered him as a youngster at Chatham, and had marked him then as an Officer of much promise."

A brother Officer said: "Professionally I had a good deal to do with him, and a better Officer in that Regiment of distinguished Officers it would have been impossible to find."

His parents received the shocking news of Julian’s and Cecil’s deaths thirty minutes apart as the Gazette reported.

Following the death of Julian and his brother a memorial service was held in November at St Mary’s Church, Hemel Hempstead and later the dedication of a stained-glass window in the church, to further commemorate the sacrifice made by the two men. They were also commemorated on the Memorial Tablet below the window and the inscription reads: “To the glory of God in ever loving memory of Lieut: Julian Missenden Smeathman, Royal Engineers, who was killed in action at Ypres 24th October 1914, aged 26 years; and Lieut: Cecil Smeathman, B.A., 1st Leicestershire Regiment, who died at Bailleul of wounds received in action, aged 25 years. “Lovely and pleasant in their lives and in their death they were not divided.”

Julian is Remembered with Honour on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, Panel 9.

He was 26 years old when he fell.

Julian was eligible for the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.