Henry was born on 3 September 1897 in Chatham, Kent, England. He was the son of Henry John Smith and Emma Jane Lee.
In the 1911 England and Wales Census, he was in a household at Chatham, Kent, aged 13, attending school, with his parents and 2 sisters.
He married Alice Charlotte Smith, maiden name unknown.
He was a officer in the Indian Army Corps of Clerks.
On 1 February 1931, he was awarded the rank of Sub-Conductor (Warrant Officer Class II), North Command.
On 23 November 1938, he was awarded the rank of Conductor (Warrant Officer Class I), North Command.
He was awarded an MBE in 1941.
On 1 April 1941, he was awarded an emergency rank of Lieutenant (Assistant Commissary) at General Headquarters.
After the partition of India, they moved to New Zealand.
He passed away in New Zealand about 1967 aged 69.
Sources
England and Wales Birth Registration Index via FamilySearch registration of birth of Henry Maslen Smith, 1897, Oct-Nov-Dec at Medway, Kent, page 602, volume 2A, affiliate line number 369.
General Register Office, Search the GRO Indexes, Henry Maslen Smith, GRO ref 1897 D Quarter in Medway, volume 02a, page 602, mother's maiden name Lee.
England and Wales Census, 1911 via FamilySearch household at Chatham, Kent, England; Henry John Smith, head, age 37, born at Chatham, private R.M.L.S.; Emma Jane Smith, wife, married for 18 years, 37, born at Springfield, Essex, occupation barrack needlework; Emma L C Smith, daughter, 17, born at Chatham, mothers help; Henry Maslen Smith, son, 13, born at Chatham, school; Dorothy Mary Smith, daughter, 9, born at Chatham, school.
The Indian Army List, October 1932, Army Department, Government of India, Page 883a via Internet Archive, Indian Corps of Clerks, Sub-Conductors, [2nd from bottom of page], Smith, Henry Maslen, born 3 September 1897, date of rank 1 Feb 1931, N. Comd. [North Command].
Indian Army List for July - 1940, page 1244 via Internet Archive, Indian Army Corps of Clerks, Conductors, Smith, Henry Maslen, born 3 September 1897, date of rank 23 November 1938, N. Comd. [North Command].
Supplement to the London Gazette, 1 January, 1941, page 10 pdf Made a member of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order (Order of the British Empire, i.e., an award of an MBE): Warrant Officer Class I (Conductor) Henry Maslen Smith, Indian Army Corps of Clerks.
The London Gazette, 25 July 1941, page 4295 pdf Indian Army Departments, Condrs to be Ty. Lts. (Asst. Comsys.). 1 Apr 1941, Henry Maslen Smith.
The Indian Army List for April I Part 2 - 1946, page 2413 via Internet Archive Departmental Officers, Indian Army Corps of Clerks, Lieutenants (Assistant Commissaries) Emergency Commission, Smith, Henry Maslen, M.B.E. (Ty. Capt. [Temporary Captain]) (Dy. Comsy. [Dockyard Commissary?]), date of birth 3 September 1897, date of rank 1 April 1941, G. H. Q. [General Headquarters].
New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages search for death reg. no. 1967/31314, death of Henry Maslen Smith, age 69 years.
Research Notes
New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages search for death reg. no. 1972/47976, Alice Charlotte Smith, born 30 January 1893.
Perhaps he was the Henry M Smith who married Alice Nash at Islington, London in 1927: via FamilySearch
Surely not coincidence? A Charlotte Alice Nash, born 1893, daughter of Alfred Edward Nash (as in the census record), married Frederick Wilds on 12 July 1921 at Murree, Bengal, India, via FamilySearch.
And we've heard that one of the brothers or brothers-in-law of Henry worked for the British Museum, as did Alice's father.
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