Edmund Hakewill-Smith
Encyclopedia
Major-General Sir Edmund Hakewill-Smith KCVO
, CB
, CBE
, MC
(1896-1986) was a South Africa
n-born British
General.
, South Africa
, on the 17 March 1896, he was educated at the Diocesan College ("Bishops") in Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa and at the RMC Sandhurst.
and Belgium
, incurring two wounds and also being awarded the Military Cross
(MC). After serving with the British Military Mission to South Russia, he also acted as Aide-de-Camp
to Lawrence Dundas, 2nd Marquess of Zetland
(Governor of Bengal, India). Hakewill-Smith initially served as officer-commanding the 5th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, during the early days of World War II, as well as officer-commanding the 4/5th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, with the rank of temporary lieutenant-colonel. Promoted temporary brigadier, he then commanded the 157th and 155th Infantry Brigades, before taking over command of the 52nd British (Lowland)Division, with the rank of acting major-general. Hakewill-Smith commanded the 52nd Division during the campaign in North-West Europe, including the battle of Walcheren in October 1944. He was awarded the CB (1944), CBE (1945) and later commanded the Lowland District in Scotland, and also served as the Honorary Colonel of the Royal Scots Fusiliers (1946-1957). In addition, Hakewill-Smith served at Windsor Castle
as a Military Knight of Windsor, later being appointed Lieutenant Governor of the castle (1964-1972) and was created a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
(KCVO) in 1967. Major-General Sir Edmund Hakewill-Smith died on the 15 April 1986.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(1896-1986) was a South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n-born British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
General.
Early life
Hakewill-Smith was born in Kimberley, Northern CapeKimberley, Northern Cape
Kimberley is a city in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, on the 17 March 1896, he was educated at the Diocesan College ("Bishops") in Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa and at the RMC Sandhurst.
Military career
Hakewill-Smith was commissioned in to the Royal Scots Fusiliers on the 16 June 1915 and served in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, incurring two wounds and also being awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(MC). After serving with the British Military Mission to South Russia, he also acted as Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Lawrence Dundas, 2nd Marquess of Zetland
Lawrence Dundas, 2nd Marquess of Zetland
Laurence John Lumley Dundas, 2nd Marquess of Zetland KG, GCSI, GCIE, PC, DL, JP , styled Lord Dundas until 1892 and Earl of Ronaldshay between 1892 and 1929, was a British Conservative politician...
(Governor of Bengal, India). Hakewill-Smith initially served as officer-commanding the 5th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, during the early days of World War II, as well as officer-commanding the 4/5th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, with the rank of temporary lieutenant-colonel. Promoted temporary brigadier, he then commanded the 157th and 155th Infantry Brigades, before taking over command of the 52nd British (Lowland)Division, with the rank of acting major-general. Hakewill-Smith commanded the 52nd Division during the campaign in North-West Europe, including the battle of Walcheren in October 1944. He was awarded the CB (1944), CBE (1945) and later commanded the Lowland District in Scotland, and also served as the Honorary Colonel of the Royal Scots Fusiliers (1946-1957). In addition, Hakewill-Smith served at Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
as a Military Knight of Windsor, later being appointed Lieutenant Governor of the castle (1964-1972) and was created a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(KCVO) in 1967. Major-General Sir Edmund Hakewill-Smith died on the 15 April 1986.