Background
Ewart Smith, the son of a pharmacist, was born in Loughton, Essex, but grew up in Hastings, East Sussex.
Ewart Smith, the son of a pharmacist, was born in Loughton, Essex, but grew up in Hastings, East Sussex.
Gaining a scholarship to Sidney Sussex College in 1915 to read Natural Sciences, he was unable to take up his place until 1919 because of the disruption of World War I, during which, he served at both Messines, and Ypres. By 1931, Ewart Smith was Technical Director of ICI's chemical plant at Billingham, County Durham. In the lead up to war, ICI had planned for the production of fuel and explosives, with which Ewart Smith assisted.
During wartime itself he served in the Government appointed role of Chief Engineer, & Superintendent of Armament Design (CEAD) for the Ministry of Supply at Fort Halstead, where he had a leading role in the design of PIAT, for armour piercing, which was the British equivalent to the American Bazooka in use into the 1950s. His military science experience when reading intelligence reports led him in 1943 to predict the development and deployment of long range rockets by Germany. Fortunately, he had Winston Churchill's ear, and V-2 launch sites were targeted by Allied forces.
In 1959 Ewart Smith retired as Deputy Chairman of ICI. During his time as CEAD, Ewart Smith recruited an able, young metallurgist to work for him, Richard Beeching. After the war, Beeching went on to continue working for Ewart Smith at ICI. When in retirement Ewart Smith was asked to serve on the Stedeford Committee to recommend a solution to the dire finances of British Transport, Ewart Smith instead recommended Beeching for his powerful ability to analyse problems. Beeching infamously went on to recommend the closure of one-third of the Britain's railway stations.
Royal Society.