Benjamin Roxburgh-Smith

Benjamin Roxburgh-Smith DFC* (1884–1951) was a British World War I fighter ace credited with 22 aerial victories.^[1] After the war, he pioneered aviation in southern Africa. He also served in World War II.

Early life and military service

Roxburgh-Smith was born in Lee, London, on 10 April 1884.^[1] By the time World War I broke out he was working as a bank teller in Bromley, then still in Surrey.^[1][2] Though a married man with two children, and old enough to be nicknamed "Dad", he initially joined up as a private in the Inns of Court Regiment, which was then functioning as an officer cadet unit.^[1][3] Roxburgh-Smith was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps on 12 August 1916.^[4] After completing pilot training he was posted to No. 60 Squadron RFC.^[2] In 1917, he was injured in the crash of a Nieuport Scout. Upon his return to service, he was assigned to flight instructor duty.^[1]

Combat duty

Roxburgh-Smith returned to combat duty in early 1918 to fly SE.5as with No. 74 Squadron RFC.^[1] He was promoted to lieutenant on 12 February 1918,^[5] and flew in Mick Mannock's "A" Flight.^[1][2]

He destroyed his first enemy, an Albatros D.V, on 12 April 1918, in conjunction with Mannock and three other pilots. By 26 May, he was an ace, destroying his fifth consecutive enemy fighter aircraft. After scoring his eighth victory on 19 July, he was shot down, suffering minor injuries in the process.^[1] He returned to duty, and having been appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain on 4 August 1918,^[6] he shot down four enemy aircraft in both August and September, and in October five; two on 5 October, and three on 14 October, rounding out his score at 22.^[1]

His final count was 14 opposing fighters destroyed (two shared with other pilots); four fighters driven down out of control; three two-seater reconnaissance planes destroyed (one shared), and one reconnaissance aircraft driven down out of control.^[1] This made Roxburgh-Smith the third highest scoring ace out of the seventeen in No. 74 Squadron, after Mick Mannock and James "Taffy" Jones.^[7]

African aviation pioneer

Roxburgh-Smith emigrated to Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1920. He farmed for several years near the capital of Bulawayo. While he was farming, civil aviation struggled to establish itself in the country. In September 1926, he sold the farm and returned to England. Once there, he brushed up on his flying skills, and obtained a private pilot's license,^[8] after joining London Aeroplane Club.^[9][10]

Upon his return to Rhodesia in June 1927, he accepted a job flying as second pilot on an aerial survey for the Aircraft Operating Company. To garner the job, he qualified as the first South African commercial pilot at Roberts Heights, Pretoria. He was employed on the survey through February 1928.^[8]

Once again, he moved to England, only to return to Rhodesia in February 1929. This time, he had the backing of Cobham-Blackburn Airlines, which was dedicated to establishing civil aviation routes the length of Africa, from Cairo, Egypt, to Cape Town, South Africa. With this backing, he was able to raise enough local financial aid to start the Rhodesian Aviation Syndicate, which was eventually absorbed into Imperial Airways.^[8]

Roxburgh-Smith resigned from the new company in May 1931, with the aim of working for Glen Kidston. The latter was independently wealthy, and wanted in on South African aviation. Kidston's death in an air crash on 5 May scotched that plan, so Roxburgh-Smith returned to England on 1 June.^[8]

In 1932 Benjamin Roxburgh-Smith was appointed Superintendent of the Salisbury Municipal Aerodrome (later renamed Belvedere Airport).^[8]

World War II service

Roxburgh-Smith returned to service in World War II, having first joined the Southern Rhodesian Air Force, he received an emergency (for the duration of hostilities) commission in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 1 March 1940 as a pilot officer, at the advanced age of 55.^[11] He was subsequently promoted to flight lieutenant on 20 September 1940.^[12] He eventually relinquished his RAFVR commission, and was transferred to the Southern Rhodesian Air Force Reserve of Officers on 1 October 1943.^[13]

Roxburgh-Smith died in Rome, Italy, in 1951 while on a tour of Europe.^[8]

Honours and awards

Distinguished Flying Cross

Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Benjamin Roxburgh-Smith.

"This officer has shot down six enemy aeroplanes during the last few months. Bold in attack, skilful in defence, he is a valuable airman." (1 November 1918)^[14]

Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross

Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Benjamin Roxburgh-Smith, DFC.

"A leader of outstanding merit whose influence has had a great effect on maintaining the morale of his squadron. He has engaged in many combats with hostile aeroplanes, displaying marked skill and courage. Since May last he has accounted for twelve hostile machines." (7 February 1919)^[15]

Croix de guerre (Belgium)

Captain Benjamin Roxburgh-Smith, DFC.

"For valuable services rendered in connection with the war." (20 February 1919)^[16]

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Shores, Christopher (2000). British and Empire Aces of World War I. Osprey Aircraft of the Aces #45. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-377-4.