Background
SMYTH, Nevill Maskelyne was born on August 14, 1868 in Westminster. 2nd son of late Sir Warington Smyth, Fellow of the Royal Society, of Marazion, Cornwall, and Antonia, daughter of late A. Story-Maskelyne of Basset Down, Wiltshire.
SMYTH, Nevill Maskelyne was born on August 14, 1868 in Westminster. 2nd son of late Sir Warington Smyth, Fellow of the Royal Society, of Marazion, Cornwall, and Antonia, daughter of late A. Story-Maskelyne of Basset Down, Wiltshire.
Private tutor; Royal Military College.
Joined Queen’s Bays at Sialkot, 1888. Served on Afghan frontier, 1890. Dongola Expedition, 1896, special service with Intelligence Department.
Orderly officer to O.C. mounted forces battle of Firket and pursuit to Suarda. On staff passing flotilla up cataracts. Galloper to C. of S., action of Hafir and occupation of Dongola.
Rode through the retreating dervishes with despatch to the Sirdar with flotilla at Debba. Companion of the Distinguished Service Order to Colonel Tudway, Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, comdg. Camel Corps (medal with 2 clasps, 4th class Medjidie, despatches).
Soudan campaign, 1897. Companion of the Distinguished Service Order to Sir Leslie Rundle, comdg. Dongola Province (bar).
D.A.A.G.I. advanced posts on the Atbara. Gunboat bombardment of Metemmeh, 1st January 189S. Reconnaissance and battle of the Atbara (despatches, bar).
Battle of Khartoum as orderly officer to G.O.C. Egyptian Division, horse shot under him, severe wound (Victoria Cross, despatches, bar to Soudan medal, British medal). Soudan campaign, 1899. Suppressed Khalifa Sherif’s rising 1884 on Blue Nile.
Preliminary operations and final defeat and death of the two Khalifas at Gedid (4th class Osmanieh, two bars to Egyptian medal). Assisted Colonel Honourable M. G. Talbot in the Soudan surveys. Charted,the Nile cataracts from Wadi Haifa to Abyssinia.
Established the fact of existence of South African horse sickness in the Soudan. Abyssinian Frontier Delimitation under Major Gwynn, Companion of St. Michael and St. George. South Africa, 1902, as A.P.M. and D.A.A.G.I. to Colonel Honourable R. T. Lawley’s column (medal and 3 clasps, Brevet of Major).
Promoted Major to the Carabiniers, 1903. Victoria Cross; The Carabiniere.