Charles Robert Smith
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Smith KBE, CMG, (13 November 1887 - 4 November 1959) was a British Governor of North Borneo
from 1937 until 18 January 1942, and again from 11 September 1945 until October 1946. During the period from 1942-1945 during World War II
, North Borneo was under Japanese occupation and Smith's Governorship was suspended.
Smith was educated at Christ's Hospital
, and joined the North Borneo Civil Service as a cadet in 1913. He was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of North Borneo in 1937. He was awarded the CMG in 1941.
Smith was interned by the Japanese at Berhala Island
near Sandakan in North Borneo and then at Batu Lintang camp
, Sarawak, Borneo, from 18 January 1942 until May 1943, after which time he was transferred to another camp in Manchuria
, and he was in a camp in Formosa
in late 1943. After the war he took up his position as Governor briefly, before retiring in October 1946. He was awarded the KBE in 1947, and died in 1959.
Smith married twice. In 1920 he married Violet Mure Slight, and they had a son and a daughter. In 1948 he married Gwendoline Jessie Holdcroft.
Governor of North Borneo
The Governor of North Borneo was the appointed head of the government of North Borneo.Originally the Governor was appointed by the North Borneo Chartered Company, which was responsible for the administration of the protectorate...
from 1937 until 18 January 1942, and again from 11 September 1945 until October 1946. During the period from 1942-1945 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, North Borneo was under Japanese occupation and Smith's Governorship was suspended.
Smith was educated at Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital
Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...
, and joined the North Borneo Civil Service as a cadet in 1913. He was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of North Borneo in 1937. He was awarded the CMG in 1941.
Smith was interned by the Japanese at Berhala Island
Berhala Island, Sabah
Berhala Island is a small forested island situated in Sandakan Bay in Sandakan, Sabah, East Malaysia.The island is approximately 5 hectares in size and has prominent cliffs at its northern end...
near Sandakan in North Borneo and then at Batu Lintang camp
Batu Lintang camp
Batu Lintang camp at Kuching, Sarawak on the island of Borneo was a Japanese internment camp during the Second World War. It was unusual in that it housed both Allied prisoners of war and civilian internees...
, Sarawak, Borneo, from 18 January 1942 until May 1943, after which time he was transferred to another camp in Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
, and he was in a camp in Formosa
Formosa
Formosa or Ilha Formosa is a Portuguese historical name for Taiwan , literally meaning, "Beautiful Island". The term may also refer to:-Places:* Formosa Strait, another name for the Taiwan Strait...
in late 1943. After the war he took up his position as Governor briefly, before retiring in October 1946. He was awarded the KBE in 1947, and died in 1959.
Smith married twice. In 1920 he married Violet Mure Slight, and they had a son and a daughter. In 1948 he married Gwendoline Jessie Holdcroft.