Correspondence of Walter Buchanan-Smith
Scope and Contents
Approx. 384 outgoing letters from Buchanan-Smith, mostly to his mother, Christina Laura Buchanan (1852-1932), variously ‘Mumps’, ‘Mumpies’, ‘Mouse’ and ‘Mousie’, and father, James George Smith (1839-1915). There are occasional letters to his sister, Olive Mary Smith (1890-1965), variously ‘Oils’, and other siblings. The letters cover his colonial service in North Borneo and Nigeria, as well as military service during the First World War in the British Cameroons and German East Africa [Tanzania]. The correspondence ends rather abruptly in 1932 following the death of his mother.
Dates
- Creation: 1903 - 1932
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact rcs@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Biographical / Historical
Walter Buchanan-Smith was born on 25 May 1879 and educated at Bilton Grange Bolton and Repton. In January 1903 he was selected by the British North Borneo Company for their administrative service. He spent five years in North Borneo [present day Sabah], and in 1909 was appointed Acting District Commissioner in southern Nigeria. He served with the Nigeria Regiment in the Cameroons in 1914-15 and in German East Africa [Tanzania] in 1916-18, being awarded the Military Cross. Returning to Nigeria he was appointed a First Class District Officer in 1918, serving in the Southern Provinces and the Cameroons, and from1930 until his retirement in 1935 he was Lieutenant Governor of the Southern Provinces. He administered the Government of Nigeria in 1930 and 1934. In 1939 he administered the Government of the Seychelles. He became Honorary Secretary-General of the Royal Empire Society in 1941 and died on 27 November 1944.
Extent
0.04 cubic metre(s) (4 archive boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Other Finding Aids
Donald H. Simpson (ed.), 'The Manuscript catalogue of the Library of the Royal Commonwealth Society' (1975), pp. 47-48. See also, 'A cadet in North Borneo 1903' in RCS Library Notes, no. 183, pp. 1-5, July 1972 which summaries the contents of RCS/RCMS 50/1.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented to the Royal Commonwealth Society in 1972 by J.A. Pollock-Morris, nephew of Sir Walter Buchanan-Smith.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository
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