Sir Frank Ewart Smith
Encyclopedia
Sir Frank Ewart Smith FRS (31 May 1897-14 June 1995) was a scholar, military scientist, and technical director, then Deputy Chairman of Imperial Chemical Industries
. Gaining a scholarship to Sidney Sussex College in 1915 to read Natural Sciences, he was unable to take up his place until 1919 because of the disruption of World War I, during which, he served at both Messines, and Ypres. He went on to gain a first in Mechanical Engineering in an unusually short time, and stayed on as a postgraduate to study phase changes in iron, for which he was awarded the John Wimbolt prize.
, County Durham. In the lead up to war, ICI had planned for the production of fuel and explosives, with which Ewart Smith assisted. During wartime itself he served in the Government appointed role of Chief Engineer, & Superintendent of Armament Design (CEAD) for the Ministry of Supply at Fort Halstead
, where he had a leading role in the design of PIAT
, for armour piercing, which was the British equivalent to the American Bazooka
in use into the 1950s.
His military science experience when reading intelligence reports led him in 1943 to predict the development and deployment of long range rockets by Germany. Fortunately, he had Winston Churchill
's ear, and V-2 launch sites were targeted by Allied forces.
. After the war, Beeching went on to continue working for Ewart Smith at ICI. When in retirement Ewart Smith was asked to serve on the Stedeford Committee to recommend a solution to the dire finances of British Transport, Ewart Smith instead recommended Beeching for his powerful ability to analyse problems. Beeching infamously went on to recommend the closure of one-third of the Britain's railway stations.
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
Early life
Ewart Smith, the son of a pharmacist, was born in Loughton, Essex, but grew up in Hastings, East Sussex. He was educated at Uckfield Grammar, and later won a scholarship to Christ's HospitalChrist's Hospital
Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...
. Gaining a scholarship to Sidney Sussex College in 1915 to read Natural Sciences, he was unable to take up his place until 1919 because of the disruption of World War I, during which, he served at both Messines, and Ypres. He went on to gain a first in Mechanical Engineering in an unusually short time, and stayed on as a postgraduate to study phase changes in iron, for which he was awarded the John Wimbolt prize.
World War II
By 1931, Ewart Smith was Technical Director of ICI's chemical plant at BillinghamBillingham
Billingham is a town in the unitary authority of Stockton on Tees, in north east England, with a population of 35,765 . It was founded circa 650 by a group of Saxons known as Billa's people, which is where the name Billingham is thought to have originated...
, County Durham. In the lead up to war, ICI had planned for the production of fuel and explosives, with which Ewart Smith assisted. During wartime itself he served in the Government appointed role of Chief Engineer, & Superintendent of Armament Design (CEAD) for the Ministry of Supply at Fort Halstead
Fort Halstead
Fort Halstead is a research site of Dstl, an Executive Agency of the UK Ministry of Defence. It is situated on the crest of the Kentish North Downs, overlooking the town of Sevenoaks...
, where he had a leading role in the design of PIAT
PIAT
The Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank was a British hand-held anti-tank weapon developed during the Second World War. The PIAT was designed in 1942 in response to the British Army's need for a more effective infantry anti-tank weapon, and entered service in 1943.The PIAT was based on the spigot...
, for armour piercing, which was the British equivalent to the American Bazooka
Bazooka
Bazooka is the common name for a man-portable recoilless rocket antitank weapon, widely fielded by the U.S. Army. Also referred to as the "Stovepipe", the innovative bazooka was amongst the first-generation of rocket propelled anti-tank weapons used in infantry combat...
in use into the 1950s.
His military science experience when reading intelligence reports led him in 1943 to predict the development and deployment of long range rockets by Germany. Fortunately, he had Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
's ear, and V-2 launch sites were targeted by Allied forces.
The Beeching cuts
During his time as CEAD, Ewart Smith recruited an able, young metallurgist to work for him, Richard BeechingRichard Beeching
Richard Beeching, Baron Beeching , commonly known as Doctor Beeching, was chairman of British Railways and a physicist and engineer...
. After the war, Beeching went on to continue working for Ewart Smith at ICI. When in retirement Ewart Smith was asked to serve on the Stedeford Committee to recommend a solution to the dire finances of British Transport, Ewart Smith instead recommended Beeching for his powerful ability to analyse problems. Beeching infamously went on to recommend the closure of one-third of the Britain's railway stations.