Background
Born the seventh son of Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe and educated at Eton College, Smyth was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1845.
Born the seventh son of Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe and educated at Eton College, Smyth was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1845.
He served in the Basuto War in 1852. In 1854 he was appointed aide-de-camp to Lord Raglan and was present at the Battle of Alma, the Battle of Inkerman and the Siege of Sevastopol. He subsequently served as Aide-de-Camp to General Codington.
He was made Assistant Military Secretary in the Ionian Islands in 1856, Military Secretary in Ireland in 1865 and Deputy Quartermaster in Ireland in 1872.
In 1877 he became General Officer Commanding Western District and in 1880 GOC Cape Colony.