Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Lt Col

Army Number : 156183

Unit : Royal 2nd Bn, Royal 1st Bn, Royal 5th Bn (TA), Royal 4/5th Bn (TA)

Biography :

Educated at King Edward VI College (Nuneaton), Stuart Smith was commissioned into The Royal Fusiliers (RF) on 2.11.1940 and joined the Infantry Training Centre RF. He joined 1st Bn RF on 10.3.1941 with which he served in PAIFORCE in Iraq from 20.12.1941-30.10.1943. As a Captain he was appointed IO of HQ 17th Indian Infantry Brigade on 11.9.1943. He was GSO3 HQ 8th Indian Division from 10.11.1944-22.10.1945, in Italy and latterly India. Awarded Mention in Despatches (L.G. 19.7.1945) and M.B.E. (L.G. 13.12.1945) for work as SO3 (Air), HQ 8th Indian Division and Brigade Intelligence Officer, Italy, 1944-45. As a Major he was DAQMG HQ 8th Indian Division from 22.10.1945-15.6.1946. He served two months in No. 1 Holding Battalion in England from 10.7.1946 and was then DAA&QMG OC Troops Tobruk from 10.10.1946-until 5.8.1947. On 10.1.1947 he was granted a Regular Commission in The Royal Leicestershire Regiment and joined Midland Brigade Training Centre from 19.8.1947 until being posted to 2nd R Leicesters in Oct 1947 and to 1st R Leicesters on 1.3.1948. As Captain he served with 1st Bn in England and Hong Kong in 1949 and as Adjutant to 5th Bn TA from 4.3.1950-1952. Served in 1st Bn in Iserlohn (2IC B Company and later Adjutant (promoted Major on 3.1.1954)), and as OC A Company from late 1954 and in The Sudan and Cyprus until late 1956. In 1957 he was Staff Captain at HQ South West District. From 24.6.1958-11.11.1959 he served with 3rd Bn The Aden Protectorate Levies before returning to 1st R Leicesters in Muenster in late 1959 as Bn 2IC. Promoted Lt Col he commanded 4/5th Bn (TA) 1.5.1961-19.11.1963 for which he was awarded the O.B.E (L.G. 13.6.1964). On its formation on 1.9.1964 he joined The Royal Anglian Regiment. He was SO1 Public Relations, HQ British Forces Aden 1964-66. On 29.12.1966 he changed his surname to Rolfe-Smith (Rolfe being his wife's mother's maiden name). He was Assistant Director Public Relations (Army) 1966-69. In Aug 1969 for two months he was temporarily attached to the Briefing & Liaison Team at El Adem, Libya, working also for the CICC. After studying at RMCS Shrivenham Jan-Aug 1970, he was posted to HQ Directorate of Infantry, and then from 1 Aug 1972 he was Pamphlet Editor at HQ School of Infantry Warminster. He retired from the Army on 3.1.1975.
He died in 1989, aged 69 years. He is commemorated by a memorial plaque in the Regimental Chapel in Leicester Cathedral.

This page was last edited on 16.9.2019.

Date of Birth : 3.1.1920

Place of Birth : Longton, Stoke on Trent, Staffs

Date of Death : 13.1.1989

Place of Death : Wroughton, Wilts

Civil Occupation : Wildlife and Wetland Trust, Slimbridge

Period of Service : 1940-75

Conflicts : WW2, Cyprus Emergency, Aden

Places Served : UK, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Italy, Hong Kong, Germany, The Sudan, Cyprus, Aden