Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1921-24 (Capt. W. A. Smith, 406 Rfls.) edge bruising, very fine
£160-200

William Aird-Smith was born on 29 August 1893. During the Great War he served in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers, 1915-18, being promoted to Lieutenant on 1 June 1916. He served with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, January 1917-April 1918 and was wounded. After the cessation of hostilities, he was granted a permanent commission as Lieutenant in the Indian Army. Promoted to Captain in February 1920, he served with the 4-6th Rajputana Rifles in the Waziristan campaign during 1923-24. After serving as Staff Captain, 1924-27, he entered Staff College. Aird-Smith was again appointed Staff Captain in October 1930 and in September 1931 was appointed Brigade Major. Granted the rank of Brevet Major and then promoted to substantive Major in February 1934. In December 1936 he was appointed D.A.Q.M.G. at G.H.Q. India. He was then transferred to take up an appointment as G.S.O. 2nd Grade of the Lucknow District. In February 1940 Aird-Smith was appointed Acting Lieutenant-Colonel and three months later was advanced to Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel. In May of that year he was appointed A.A. & Q.M.G. In the Spring of 1941 Aird-Smith moved to Malaya and assumed the post of Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster Gereral of III Indian Corps with the rank of Acting Brigadier. He received the substantive promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel in September 1941 and that of Temporary Brigadier and Temporary Colonel in October 1941. With the Japanese invasion of Malaya and advance towards Singapore, Brigadier Aird-Smith was ordered to leave Singapore for India. However, before he could board ship, it is believed he died in a Japanese air raid on 17 February 1942. His name is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial. He was posthumously mentioned in despatches in recognition of his gallant and distinguished services in Malaya on 19 December 1946. With copied research.