Key Information
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1983 (1904-1983) (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent
1 box (0.01 cubic metres)
Scope and content
Autobiography of Capt Humphrey Gilbert Boys-Smith From the Cradle to Within Sight of the Grave (1983). Including childhood and education; service in Merchant Navy, 1922-1934; account of Invergordon Mutiny, 1931; appointment to command of anti submarine corvette, HMS ANEMONE, 1940; evacuation from Dunkirk, making 6 crossings in requisitioned boats; service in HMS ANEMONE, Atlantic convoys, Jun 1940- Feb1942, including HMS ANEMONE'S sinking of Italian submarine NANI, 1941; comment on shortcomings of Asdic, 1940-1941; patrol against possible approach of the German battleship TIRPITZ, Arctic Circle, 1941; promotion to Cdr, Dec 1941; appointment to command of frigate HMS SPEY, Atlantic convoys, Mar 1942; service in Support Groups, Atlantic, autumn 1942- summer 1943 (hunting U boats, not protecting convoys); invasion of North Africa, late 1942; Capt, 1943-1945, in Officer Appointments, Second Sea Lord's Office, Admiralty; Marine Superintendent, Colonial Office service, South Seas islands, 1946-1950; Senior Officers' War Course, RN College Greenwich, 1950-1951; Staff Recruiting Officer, Courtaulds Ltd, 1951-1968; retirement, 1968-1982 Also file of copies of correspondence and press cuttings on honours and awards and report by Boys-Smith on marine policy in the Western Pacific, Sep 1946
General Information
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born 1904, educated at Pangborne Naval College. Joined Royal Naval Reserve 1921, Midshipman 1921, Sub Lt 1925, Lt Cdr 1928, Lt Cdr 1937, commanded HMS ANEMONE, Western Approaches Command, 1940-1942, DSO 1940, for services during Dunkirk evacuation; Cdr 1941; awarded Bar to DSO, 1941 for successful action against an enemy submarine; commanded HMS SPEY, Western Approaches Command, 1942-1943; awarded DSC and US Commendation for exceptionally meritorious service during landings in North Africa, Nov 1942; Capt 1943; Admiralty (Second Sea Lord's Office) 1943-1945, mainly concerned with Officer Appointments in Western Approaches escort ships; War Course, Royal Naval College, Greenwich, 1950-1951, retired 1952; Served in Merchant Navy, Commonwealth and Dominion Line (later renamed the Port Line), 1922-1929, Cunard 1929-1934, Extra Master's Certificate, 1930; Colonial Maritime Service, 1935-1940 (Palestine) and 1946-1950 (Marine Superintendent, Western Pacific High Commission, based in Fiji); Courtaulds Ltd, Central Staff Dept 1951-1968, died 1999.
Repository
Custodial history
Deposited by the family for copying, July 2000
Conditions governing access
Open, subject to signature of Reader's undertaking form, and appropriate provision of two forms of identification, to include one photographic ID.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied from open material for research purposes only.
Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Trustees of the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, via the Archives.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Existence and location of originals
Please note: We require 7 days notice to retrieve this collection as part, or all of it, is held off-campus. Read more ›
Alternative identifier(s)
Place access points
People and Organisations
- HMS Anemone, corvette, 1940 (Subject)
- HMS Spey, River class frigate, 1941 (Subject)
- Merchant Navy (Subject)
- Royal Naval Reserve (Subject)
- Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (Subject)
Genre access points
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000.
Script(s)
Archivist's note
Sources: Who's Who, Navy Lists, presscuttings. Compiled by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 project