Vice-Admiral Conolly Abel Smith GCVO CB JP |
|
---|---|
Born |
Branston, Lincolnshire |
3 December 1899
Died | 3 December 1985 | (aged 86)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | Royal Navy |
Years of service | 1912–1958 |
Rank | Vice Admiral |
Commands held | No. 403 Flight FAA No. 408 Flight FAA Fighter Squadron 802 FAA HMS London HMS Condor (RNAS Arbroath) HMS Biter HMS Heron (RNAS Yeovilton) HMS Triumph HMY Britannia |
Battles/wars |
First World War Second World War |
Awards |
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Companion of the Order of the Bath |
Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Michael Conolly Abel Smith GCVO CB JP (3 December 1899 – 3 December 1985) was a Royal Navy officer who served during the First and Second World Wars.
Conolly Abel Smith (as he was usually known) was the second son of Eustace Abel Smith, JP, a banker of Longhills House, Branston, Lincolnshire, and Aileen Geta Katherine Conolly, the daughter of Colonel John Augustus Conolly, VC. He entered the Royal Naval College, Osborne in September 1912, at the age of 13, continuing his training at Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. From 1915 he served aboard the battlecruiser Princess Royal, receiving promotion to sub-lieutenant on 15 May 1918, and to lieutenant on 15 May 1920.
On 16 June 1924 Abel Smith was attached to the Royal Air Force, who were in control of all naval aviation at that time, with the rank of flying officer, to attend No. 1 Flying Training School at Netheravon, Wiltshire. From 23 October 1925 he was stationed at HMS Columbine, the naval base at Port Edgar in the Firth of Forth, then from 3 April 1926 served as the Flight Commander of No. 403 Flight FAA aboard the carrier Hermes on the China Station, receiving promotion to flight lieutenant on 1 January 1928 and to lieutenant-commander on 15 May 1928. From 3 March 1929 he served aboard the heavy cruiser Cumberland, and from 20 March 1930 on the carrier Glorious in the Mediterranean Fleet, firstly as the Flight Commander of No. 408 Flight, then as Squadron Commander of Fighter Squadron 802 FAA. He was promoted to squadron leader on 1 January 1933 and commander on 30 June 1933.