SIR ARTHUR AND LADY SMITH

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27403, 16 July 1954, Page 2

SIR ARTHUR AND LADY SMITH

VISIT TO CHRISTCHURCH THIS MONTH Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Smith, K.C.8., K.8.E., D. 5.0., M.C., and Lady Smith will arrive in Christchurch from Sydney by air on the morning of Tuesday, July 27, and will be met on arrival by the Governor-General (Sir Willoughby Norrie). An hour later they will leave by private plane for Wellington, where they will be guests at Government House. They will return to Christchurch by car from Nelson on Saturday, July 31, and will stay at the Clarendon Hotel until August 3 1 , when they will fly to Dunedin. On August 2 Lady Smith will be the guest of the Christchurch branch of the National Council of Women at luncheon.

Sir Arthur Smith, who was twice decorated for bravery in the 1914-18 war, and twice severely wounded, has had a distinguished career. His school days were spent at Eton, and he then entered Sandhurst. He was successively commanding officer of the Coldstream Guards, chief of staff to General Wavell in the Middle East during the Second World War, commander in Persia and Iraq, and general officer commander-in-chief in India before the partition. Lady Smith, formerly the Hon. Monica Crossley, is the youngest daughter of the first Baron Somerleyton. When she was in India with her husband she showed remarkable courage during the troublous times when hostilities were raging between Moslems and Hindus. She was outstanding in her fearless protection of womer and children. On one occasion she was found in a melee, rescuing women and children from opposing farces. Sir Arthur and Lady Smith, whose home is Pirbright Lodge, Pirbright, Surrey, have three daughters.