William Douglas Smith

Major General Sir William Douglas Smith KCB KCVO (24 March 1865 – 4 February 1939) was a British Army officer who became Lieutenant Governor of Jersey.[1]

Sir William Smith
Birth nameWilliam Douglas Smith
Born24 March 1865
Stonehouse, Plymouth, Devon, England
Died4 February 1939(1939-02-04) (aged 73)
Kensington, London, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1885–1924
RankMajor General
Commands held56th (1/1st London) Division
Battles/warsWorld War I
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order

Military career

Smith was the son of Lt.-Col. Andrew William Douglas Smith, Royal Marines and Myra Elizabeth Luxmoore, an artist.[1] Smith was commissioned into the Royal Scots Fusiliers as a lieutenant on 29 August 1885.[2] He took part in the Burma expedition in 1886, was promoted to captain on 14 November 1894, and took part in the Tirah Campaign in 1897.[2] He was promoted to major on 14 November 1902, while serving with the 1st battalion stationed in Allahabad, British India.[3][4] He was appointed a Brigade Major in India in 1905 and Commanding Officer of 1 Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1911.[2] He served in World War I as Commander of the 9th Infantry Brigade, as General Officer Commanding 20th (Light) Division and then as General Officer Commanding 56th (1/1st London) Division in France.[2] He took command of the 56th Division on a temporary basis between 24 July 1917 and 9 August 1917 after his predecessor had been taken ill and until a permanent appointment could be made.[5]

After the War he became Commander of Portsmouth Garrison and then Lieutenant Governor of Jersey before retiring in 1924.[2]

Family

He married Kathleen Edith Beyts and had one daughter.[1]

References
  1. "Obituary: Maj.-Gen. Sir William Douglas Smith – Conspicuous Success in Action". The Times. 6 February 1939. p. 14.
  2. "Smith, Sir William Douglas". Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  3. "No. 27515". The London Gazette. 13 January 1903. p. 237.
  4. Hart′s Army list, 1903
  5. The Tactical Development of the 56th (London) Division on the Western Front 1916 to 1918
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