New artwork has been added to our collection.
Twenty paintings and drawings by Donald (Don) Smith, who completed his basic training as a National Serviceman with the regiment in the mid 1950s have been donated to the museum by Don’s son, who contacted us while sorting through his late father’s belongings.
Don was posted for training with the Green Howards at the Depot in Richmond, which he describes in his memoirs, a copy of which was also sent with the paintings.
The artwork, now in our care, was created while Don, a trained artist, was serving in Cyprus between 1955 and 1957.
Before his time in the army, Don had trained for four years at the Laird School of Art in Birkenhead – the first public school of art outside of London. Don served with the Royal Army Education Corps, attached to 37 Field Engineer Regiment.
“With the Cyprus emergency ‘hotting up’ there was a sudden influx of new young semi-literate and numerate NS men, many of whom needed basic education. I was to come to realise that our civilian education system was very wanting in teaching fundamental basic numeracy and literacy. It was disgraceful that our country’s youth were so let down.” extract from Don Smith’s memoirs of his service in Cyprus.
Don pursued a long and successful career in teaching in civilian life. He continued to create art, exhibiting in various galleries in the North West.