Edward Harold SMYTH [c.1881-1955]

Submitted by moddsey on
Names
Given
Edward Harold
Family
Smyth
Sex
Male
Status
Deceased
Born
Date
(Day, Month, & Year are approximate.)
Died
Date
Died in (country)
B.C.C.Hong Kong

Edward Harold Smyth, retired merchant was better known as Harold Smyth. He was born in 1881 (John Black's List). Place of birth not known. He died in Hong Kong on 29 November 1955. His gravestone is in the Hong Kong Cemetery.

Extracted from Carl Smith Archives with additional notes:

SCMP, 1 December 1955: died Mr. Edward Harold Smyth, genial bachelor, great friend of late Rev. J. H. Ogilvie (Vicar of St. Andrew's Church, Kowloon), died Nov. 29. To China in 1902 to join Messrs. Deacon & Co. Ltd. in Canton. Retired to England in 1923. Returned to China in 1932 because of fondness for China and resided on Cheung Chau. In 1941, interned at Stanley. After liberation, went to live in St. Andrew's Vicarage, Kowloon. When Rev. Ogilvie died earlier in the year, Mr. Smyth felt the loss keenly. Aged 75.

Prior to the Japanese Occupation, he resided on Cheung Chau in European House #12 and participated in meetings of the Cheung Chau Residents' Association under the name of Harold Smyth.

Sources: 

  1. Hong Kong War Diary: 

    http://www.hongkongwardiary.com/searchgarrison/nonuniformedcivilians.html#_Toc43367495

  2. China Families: https://www.chinafamilies.net/internees/9729-smyth-edward-harold/

 

3. Gravestone: https://www.hkmemory.hk/en/collection_details.html?catalogueRecordId=69707&f=classinfo&cp=%E7%B4%85%E6%AF%9B%E5%A2%B3%E5%A0%B4%E5%85%A7%E5%AE%B9%E5%88%86%E9%A1%9E&ep=Hong%20Kong%20Cemetery%20Topics&path=/MHK/collections/hong_kong_cemetery/All_Items/9332/index_314.html

4. Carl Smith Archive: https://search.grs.gov.hk/en/searchcarl.xhtml?q=smyth&rpp=10&page=2

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Comments

As Rev. Carl Smith's cards, below info is also recorded :

   Returned to China 1932 because of fondness for China, opened house on Cheung Chau. ... 
   After liberation, went to live in St. Andrew's Vicarage, Kowloon. [^]

Some words from Bishop Hall on the memorial ceremony for Mr. E.H. Smyth, 1 Dec. 1955 :

   No one but God knew how many people H. Symth had been a brother, an uncle, and a guardian angel to in his quiet, unassuming way for 22 years ...
   His talent as a host was well known. His bungalow in Cheung Chau was in pre-war days a centre
   of happy gatherings and good fellowship.

The 'House No. 12' was seldom seen on newspapers, unlike other houses. 
Only we read House 12A mentioned once as one with considerable damages, amongst others, in the 1937 typhoon.

[^] notice of Repatriation Office published on China Mail, 1946-3-5 says :
      The S.S. "Strathmore" is expected to leave for the United Kindom on or about the 1st
      April 1946, and will probably have accommodation for all persons named on the list.
      . . .
      It is possible that this ship may be the last available for those on the General Waiting List ..

    a Mr. E. H. Smyth is on this list.

    After retired, Mr. Smyth's initial return to England was in Nov. 1925, as China Mail 1925-11-14.
    His father was a clergyman in Lincolnshire. His brothers and sisters were in England.  
    A room in St John's Cathedral was named in memory of him in their new building, which expected to use by young people of all ages, Sunday School children ...
     Memorial of H. Smyth in the form of choir stalls was dedicated in St Andrew's Cathedral, possibly with inscription on them. [*]  

sources
Carl Smith's cards
China Mail
SCMP, Dec. 1955

[*] refer SCMP : 1956-7-9, 1958-6-27, 1958-3-17, 1956-3-10