1. David Smiley fought in the Second World War in Palestine, Iraq, Persia, Syria, the Western Desert and with Special Operations Executive in Albania and Thailand.
18 Facts About David Smiley
1. 2.
David Smiley's father fought in the Second Boer War between 1899 and 1900 with 4th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders before joining the North of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry.
3.
David Smiley gained the rank of major in the service of the Carabiniers and fought in the First World War.
4.
David Smiley was educated at the Nautical College, Pangbourne, Berkshire, England, where he was a noted sportsman.
5.
David Smiley attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in 1934, and was commissioned into the Royal Horse Guards in 1936.
6.
David Smiley was an amateur jockey and won seven races under National Hunt rules.
7.
In 1940 David Smiley joined the Somaliland Camel Corps, but was to arrive at Berbera the same day it was decided to evacuate British Somaliland.
8.
David Smiley returned frustrated to Egypt where he persuaded family friend General Wavell to recommend him for the newly formed commandos.
9.
David Smiley was appointed a company commander with 52 Commando and his first mission was sneaking from Sudan into Abyssinia.
10.
David Smiley was recruited by the Special Operations Executive 1943 and undertook his first operation with them in Palestine in the same year.
11.
David Smiley was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1946 for his service with the SOE in Thailand.
12.
David Smiley was Colonel of the Royal Horse Guards between December 1951 to December 1954.
13.
David Smiley rode behind The Queen in the Gold State Coach in the Coronation Procession on 2 June 1953.
14.
David Smiley was appointed as a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order in 1952 and received the Coronation Medal.
15.
David Smiley was British Military Attache to Stockholm between 1955 and 1958.
16.
David Smiley was Commander of the Sultan of Muscat and Oman's Armed Forces between 1958 and 1961.
17.
David Smiley was Military Advisor to Yemen between 1962 and 1967.
18.
David Smiley was the author of three books based on his experiences, Arabian Assignment, Albanian Assignment and Irregular Regular.