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Name: SMITH, George Echlin (Capt.)
Birth Date: 4.12.1872 Stump Castle, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
Death Date: 26.11.1952 Tangier
First Date: 1906
Last Date: 1931
Profession: Joined 5th Battalion, Royal Irish Regt. in 1891 and served in the Gold Coast, Brit. Guiana and EA. Awarded 1914-15 Star, General Service and Victory Medals and King's Police Medal, Commandant of Police, Zanzibar for some years
Area: Zanzibar, Malindi, Nairobi
Book Reference: Gillett, HBEA, Cuckoo, Police, Red 25, Playne, Drumkey, EAHB 1907, Red Book 1912, Red 19, North
War Service: 5th Batt. The Royal Irish Regt.
School: Rathmine's School, Dublin and Trinity College, Dublin
General Information:
HBEA 1912 - Asst. Superintendent of Police, Malindi.
Cuckoo - 1906 - 2nd in command of Nbi. Police under Foran - joined from the British Guiana Police and had been Private Secretary to two succesive Governors of that Colony.
Police - On the outbreak of WW1 Capt. George E. Smith was Asst. Superintendent in charge of the Police at Kismayu, and had been a pillar of the far-famed Jubaland Club. The latter's motto and mascot were removed to the Nairobi Club when Jubaland was surrendered to Italy in 1925. The mascot was a black wooden bird known as the "Buffin Bird", and the motto 'Toujours à la renverse' - which was appropriate as quite often things in Jubaland did begin backwards. Capt. Smith was appointed Asst. Provost Marshal at Kismayu and served in that capacity throughout the war. In 1920 he was appointed Commandant of the Zanzibar Police. After retirement he lived for a time at Kismayu until appointed Private Secretary and Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of Tanganyika, Sir Donald Cameron. On relinquishing this appointment in 1931, he made his home in Majorca.
Red 25 - joined 5th Battalion Royal Irish Regt. 1891; served in Gold Coast, British Guiana and E. Africa. 1914-15 Star, General Service and Victory medals, King's Police medal
Playne - Captain Smith was born in Ireland on December 4, 1871, and educated at Elm Park, County Dublin, and Trinity College, Dublin. He came to EA from British Guiana on Nov. 14, 1906. His appointment as Assistant District Inspector of Police dates from October 26, 1906. Captain Smith joined the 5th battalion Royal Irish Regiment, 1891; Captain, 1895; Hon. Captain in Army, 1900; Assistant Inspector, Hausa Force (Gold Coast battalion), January, 1897; Sub-Inspector, British Guiana Police, Feb. 1898; District Inspector Oct. 1900; Acting Adjutant, British Guiana Police, July 1904 to Sept. 1905; Acting Adjutant, EA Police, Oct. 1907 to Sept. 1908. He was ADC to Sir J.A. Swettenham KCMG 1902-04; ADC to Sir Frederic Hodgson KCMG 1904-06; Acting Private Secretary to Sir Frederic Hodgson 1905.
Playne - Assistant District Superintendent in 1909
Drumkey 1909 - Police - Assistant District Supdt.
Red Book 1912 - Police Dept. - Assistant Superintendent
Red Book 1919 - Superintendent of Police
Red Book 1919 - Jubaland Club, Kismayu - Hon. Secretary - Capt. G.E. Smith