Sir Frank Ewart Smith, 31 May 1897 - 14 June 1995

Abstract

Frank Ewart Smith was born on 31 May 1897 at Loughton in Essex, where his father was a pharmaceutical chemist and optician, but shortly afterwards the family moved to Hastings. He was educated privately until he went to Uckfield Grammar School in 1906. At twelve, he won an open scholarship to Christ’s Hospital and entered the ‘Classical Side’ because the ‘Modern Side’ did not sit for University Scholarships. He studied French, Latin and Greek in addition to chemistry and physics until he reached the sixth form when he became a ‘Science Grecian’. He always spoke very highly of the science masters who taught by the Heuristic System set up by Professor H.E. Armstrong, F.R.S., who was a Governor of the School. Pupils were trained to find out for themselves and Smith followed this philosophy throughout his life. In 1915 he won a scholarship in maths, physics and chemistry to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and left school in 1916 to join the Royal Horse Artillery as an officer cadet. When commissioned, he was transferred to a Heavy Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery (horsedrawn ‘60 pounders’). He served at the battle of Messines and the third battle of Ypres, being Mentioned in Despatches. He then became the Assistant Adjutant of the 48th Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery until he went up to Cambridge in May 1919 to read for the Mechanical Science Tripos, gaining First Class Honours after only seven terms.