Smythe, Rayner Barrington (Lieutenant Colonel, New Zealand Service Corps)

'Barry: a biography', draft typescript biography of Lieutenant Colonel Rayner Barrington Smythe, New Zealand Service Corps. Written by his son Peter Barrington Smythe. The manuscript mainly focuses on Smythe's military career and excerpts from Smythe's diary are included. Smythe served in the South African War as a member of the 9th New Zealand Contingent. He returned to New Zealand in 1902 and was posted to the Royal New Zealand Engineers. Smythe was then sent to England in 1904 for training in submarine mining for 18 months before returning to New Zealand and working with the Royal New Zealand Engineers. In 1911 Smythe underwent artillery training with the Royal Artillery in India. He was stationed at Quetta and received the Durbar medal. From India he returned to New Zealand and took up a position with the Defence Staff in Dunedin. At the request of General Godley, Major Smythe was then sent to the Staff College at Camberley. When the First World War broke out Smythe was at Tynemouth holding a staff appointment in a large training camp. He was sent to Gallipoli on special service and was present for most of the campaign. Smythe was then on the staff at the 1st Anzac Headquarters in France. Includes letters, photographs, aerial photographs and newspaper clippings. Also includes appendices.