Colonel Sir Henry Abel Smith KCMG, KCVO, DSO (
8 March 1900–24 January 1993) was a
Colonel in the
British Army and a
Governor of Queensland.
He was born on
8 March 1900, the son of Francis Abel Smith and Madeline St. Maur.
Sir Henry served in the army during
World War II and was knighted by
King George VI.
On
24 October 1931, Sir Henry married
Lady May Cambridge (born Princess May of Teck), a daughter of the
1st Earl of Athlone, brother of
Queen Mary, consort of King
George V and
Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, granddaughter of
Queen Victoria. They had three children together:
*
Anne Mary Sibylla Abel Smith (born
28 July 1932); she married
David Liddell-Grainger (
26 January 1930 -
12 March 2007) on
14 December 1957; they were divorced in
1981 but have five children and eight grandchildren. Her eldest son is the
Conservative Member of Parliament Ian Liddell-Grainger.
*
Colonel Richard Francis Abel Smith (
11 October 1933–23 December 2004); he married Marcia Kendrew (born
27 March 1940) on
28 April 1960; they have one daughter and four grandchildren.
*
Elizabeth Alice Abel Smith (born
5 September 1936); she married Peter Wise (born
29 December 1929) on
29 April 1965; they divorced in
1975 and had one daughter who died as an infant.
Sir Henry was appointed as the
Governor of Queensland (the representative in
Queensland of the monarch
Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia), from
18 March 1958 to
18 March 1966. He was highly respected in the office of governor. People lined the streets as a mark of high esteem to farewell him and Lady May Abel Smith on their final day in office on their way to Brisbane Airport.
Sir Henry's funeral service took place at
St. George's Chapel, Windsor, Windsor Castle. His remains were buried at the
Frogmore Royal Burial Ground. His wife survived him by only sixteen months.