General Sir Henry Augustus Smyth

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Born on 25 November 1825 in Westminster and educated at Bedford School, Smyth was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in 1843. He served in the Crimean War and was present at the Siege of Sevastopol. He became commandant of Woolwich garrison and military district in 1882 and General Officer Commanding the troops in South Africa in 1886. In 1888 Smyth mustered an army of 2,000 troops and left for Zululand to put down a rebellion there.

Smyth became acting Governor of Cape Colony as well as acting High Commissioner for Southern Africa in 1889. He became Governor of Malta in 1890 before retiring in 1893.

Family On 14 April 1874 at Lillington, Warwickshire he married Helen Constance Greaves (1845-1932), daughter of John Whitehead Greaves and sister of John Ernest Greaves. They had no children. Smyth died on 18 September 1906 at Stone, Buckinghamshire, and was buried there.

Morning Post

Saturday 30th December, 1893

A Reuters telegram from Malta states that General Sir Henry Augustus Smyth, the retiring Governor and Commander of the Troops, vacated his command yesterday, and embarked on board the P. and O. Company's steamer Parramatta for Egypt.

Pending the arrival of Major General F. W. Fremantle, Major General C.B. Knowles, commanding the infantry of the Garrison, is acting as Governor.

BUCKS HERALD

Saturday 29th September, 1906

STONE

FUNERAL OF GENERAL SIR H. A. SMYTH

On Saturday afternoon, the mortal remains of the late General Sir Henry Augustus Smyth, K.C.M.G., were laid to rest in Stone Churchyard, in the presence of a large number of friends. The service was of a semi=military character, the Band of the Royal Artillery, of which Regiment the deceased was Colonel Commandant, specially journeying from London to pay a last tribute of respect to their esteemed chief. The Band was conveyed to and from Aylesbury Station in brakes. The procession from St. John's Lodge was headed by the Band, who were under Sergt-Major Foster, the music played being Chopin's Funeral March and the Dead March in Saul.

The body was enclosed in an earth to earth coffin, covered in purple velvet, with brass furniture, which was carried from the house to the Church on the shoulders of eight residents in the village. It bore on a brass plate the simple inscription: - "Henry Augustus Smyth died Sept. 18, 1906; aged 80". The coffin was covered with the Union Jack and on it were placed the deceased General's helmet, sword, Crimean medals, and decorations. The officiating clergy were the Rev. J. C. Williams-Ellis, of Glasfryn, Carnarvonshire (brother-in-law of Lady Smyth) and the Rev. J.L. Challis (vicar of Stone). Mr. G. H. Wiltshire presided at the organ, and whilst the congregation was assembling he played soft voluntaries.

The principal mourners were: Major Nevill Smyth, VC, Major-Genral R.S.S Baden-Powell, CB, Mr Warington Baden-Powell, KC, Mr Frank Baden-Powell, Major B. Baden-Powell, Mr Arthur S. Flower and Mr Owen Greaves (all nephews of the deceased), Lady Flower, Mr Greaves, Mr & Mrs Richard Greaves, Mrs Williams-Ellis, Miss Greaves, Mr B. Hansard,