Charles Johnston Smith

Charles Johnston Smith OBE CBE (1880 – 25 January 1943) was a British surgeon who served as Senior Surgeon, Singapore from 1918 to 1935.

Charles Johnston Smith
Born1880
Died25 January 1943 (aged 62)
NationalityBritish
Alma materEdinburgh University
OccupationSenior surgeon
Years active1911-1942
Children2 daughters

Early life and education

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Smith was born in Edinburgh in 1880, the son of E. Johnston Smith. He was educated at Royal High School, Edinburgh and Edinburgh University where he received his medical degree and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) in 1904. After further training, in 1909, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS).[1][2]

Career

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In 1911, he entered the Malayan Civil Service as a House Surgeon and was posted to Seremban.[3] In 1914, he went to Singapore as professor of clinical surgery. From 1918 to 1935, he was Senior Surgeon, Singapore, and from 1925 to 1935, he was also Senior Professor of Surgery at King Edward VII College of Medicine. Described in his later years as "perhaps the most brilliant surgeon who ever worked in Malaya", some of his successful operations were reported in the press.[4][5] In 1935, he retired from the Malayan Medical Service.[1][2][6][7]

After moving to the Channel Islands, he became a consulting surgeon at the Victoria Hospital, Guernsey, and from 1941-42, he served as surgeon at Clare Hall Manor, E.M.S. Hospital, Hertfordshire, treating people from London injured in air raids.[1][8]

Personal life and death

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Smith married Kathleen Scott in 1921, and they had two daughters.[1]

Smith died on 25 January, 1943.[1]

Honours

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Smith was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1930,[9] and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1935.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Who was who, 1941-1950 : a companion to Who's who, containing the biographies of those who died during the decade 1941-1950. Internet Archive. London : A. & C. Black. 1967. ISBN 978-0-7136-0171-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^ a b "University Edinburgh Journal - AbeBooks". www.abebooks.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-19.[incomplete short citation]
  3. ^ "F. M. S. Appointments". Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle. 15 December 1911. p. 3.
  4. ^ "Mainly About Malayans". The Straits Times. 19 June 1938. p. 18.
  5. ^ "Remarkable operation in Singapore". The Straits Times. 13 June 1928. p. 8.
  6. ^ Admin, Annals (2021-11-29). "200 years of surgery at the General Hospital, Singapore - Annals Singapore". Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  7. ^ "Retiring Medical Men's Plans". The Straits Times. 24 May 1935. p. 12.
  8. ^ "H.L.Hopkin's From London". Morning Tribune. 7 July 1941. p. 7.
  9. ^ "Malayan New Year Honours". Malayan Saturday Post. 4 January 1930. p. 18.
  10. ^ "Untitled". Morning Tribune. 14 March 1936. p. 5.