Smith, Robert Dunlop
Rank: Captain
Regiment: 33rd Punjabis
Biography: Second son of Principal, the Very Rev. Sir George Adam Smith ; born Aberdeen, 25 September 1892 ; educated Glasgow Academy ; student in Arts, Aberdeen University, 1910-11. He was a Private in "U" Company, 4th Gordon Highlanders, and entered the R.M.C., Sandhurst, in 1912, passing out 16th on the list and receiving a commission in the Indian Army in January 1913. He was attached for probation to the 4th Battalion Rifle Brigade till in March 1914 he joined the 33rd Punjabis at Bannu. On their departure for France, he, as junior subaltern, remained on recruiting service in India and also passed through the Machine Gun School with distinction. Rejoining the 33rd in Egypt in January 1916 he became Machine Gun Officer and went with them in February to Aden. As Brigade Machine Gun Officer he directed the disposition of the guns on that Front and served in several actions, receiving the thanks in orders of the G.O.C. In April 1917 the regiment crossed to East Africa, where during May he commanded an outpost of 300 in swamps South of Kilwa Kiwinji. In June they rejoined the Battalion which marched to Beaumont's Post on the Ngaura River. There on 12 June 1917, commanding a patrol of Punjabis and the Gold Coast Regiment, he fell in action with a German ambush. Warm tributes were paid to him by the native officers and machine gunners of the regiment. His Colonel wrote : "We all learned to love him, and I never wish a more zealous, hardworking officer ; very keen, a thoroughly lovable gentleman".
Date of Death: 12 June 1917
Burial Details: Buried at Kilwa Kiwinji Cemetery, Tanganyika, Plot 4, Row F, Grave 9.
Publication: Roll of Service, edited by Mabel Desborough Allardyce. Published 1921.
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