The Dacorum Heritage Trust
 The history of Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead, Kings Langley & Tring

Henry Smith-Dorrien

Henry Theophilus Smith -Dorrien was born in 1850 and was the second eldest son of Col. Robert Smith -Dorrien of Haresfoot House, Berkhamsted. He joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet and in 1863 and a year later served in the Mediterranean on board HMS Revenge. Later, he served as a midshipman on board HMS Galatea when she sailed round the world and as Sub Lieutenant on HMS Serapia when the Prince of Wales visited India in 1875.

In 1880, he joined the Admiral's flagship, HMS Invincible as Flag Lieutenant, and was to make his name during the troubles in Egypt. Following the Nationalist riots in Alexandria on 11 June 1882 which had resulted in the massacre of a number of Europeans, Lieutenant Smith-Dorrien, volunteered to be put ashore, after Arabi Pasha had put up new forts and gum emplacements around the city against an ultimatum given by the British navy. Disguised as an Arab fisherman he was put ashore to see if the ultimatum was being complied with and the guns dismounted. The guns were still there and the British navy commenced the bombardment.

Three days later Smith Dorrien made a daring reconnaissance with Lt de Coursy Hamilton, wading across Lake Mareotis in order to ascertain if the water was too deep for the cavalry to cross.

Henry retired as Lieutanant Commander in 1890.

DACHT : BK 2843 photograph from obituary notice in West Herts Advertiser.		DACHT : 2842 Admiral A.H.Smith-Dorrien at Rossway with 3 ladies (one descending from trap); 2 grooms; and pony and trap

DACHT : BK 1743. Haresfoot House, Berkhamsted. According to the 1881 Census and Kelly's Directory of 1894, Mrs Frances Marchant (Merchant) was the occupier, but by the time of Kelly's of 1926, Rear Admiral Smith-Dorrien was the resident. He died in 1933 (see GAZ 1933.6.10) and at the time of 1937 Kelly's, the Misses Smith-Dorriens were there.