Guide to the Papers of Francis Smith [MSS 202]

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Manuscript Name Papers of Francis Smith
Manuscript Number MSS 202
Last Updated October 2021
Extent 2 cm (1 box)
Location Special Collections, UNSW Canberra
Abstract This collection comprises letters written by Lieutenant Francis Smith to his father, from February 1878 when he first served in South Africa with the 90th (Perthshire Volunteers) Light Infantry until May 1879.

Date Range of Content

1978-1979

Organization

The collection has been arranged in box then folder order.

Biographical Note

Francis Smith was born on the 14th August 1854 and died in 1915?. He was promoted to lieutenant on the 2nd December 1874, captain on the 29th September 1880 and major on the 23rd May 1892, and retired from the military on the 7th April 1897. He served with the 90th (Perthshire Volunteers) Light Infantry from 2nd December 1874, Scottish Rifles from 29th September 1880, and The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) from 19th July 1882. His staff service included Adjutant, Volunteers from 1st November 1887 to 31st October 1892.

Major Smith served in South Africa from February 1878 to May 1879, including in the operations against the Galekas in 1877-1878, and in the engagement at Kambula where he was severely wounded in the arm when he, Captain Aubrey Maude and 2nd Lieutenant Henry Lysons rescued a wounded soldier. He was mentioned in despatches, and awarded the South Africa Medal (with clasp).

References:
The new annual army list, militia list, and yeomanry cavalry list, for 1894
The official army list, January 1894
The quarterly army list, April 1915
Anglo-Zulu War : Battle of Khambul . Retrieved from the History net 24 September 2009.

Administrative Information

Access

The collection is available for research.

Restrictions on Use

No copying is permitted without the permission of the copyright owners.

Preferred Citation

Papers of Francis Smith, Special Collections, UNSW Canberra, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, MS 202, Box [Number], Folder [Number].

Provenance

The collection was purchased from Julian Browning in April 1985.

Access Terms

Personal Names

Smith, Francis, 1854-1915? -- Archives

Topical Subjects

Zulu War, 1879 -- Personal narratives, British

Geographical Names

Zululand (South Africa) -- History -- To 1879 -- Sources

Occupations

Army Officers

Container List

Box 1

Folder 1-2
Correspondence from Lieutenant Francis Smith to his father in England describing military life and British military operations in South Africa, 13 February 1878 - 4 May 1879