From Trustee Paul McCue: The Clandestine Lives of Colonel David Smiley: Code Name ‘Grin’ by Clive Jones.

Drawing on extensive interviews and archival research, this biography uncovers the motivations and ideals that informed Smiley’s commitment to covert action and intelligence during the Second World War (including service with SOE) and early part of the Cold War, often among tribally based societies. With particular reference to operations in Albania, Oman and Yemen, it addresses the wider issues of accountability and control of clandestine operations.

Smiley was the 4th and youngest son of Sir John Smiley, 2nd Baronet and Valerie Champion de Crespigny, He was educated at the Nautical College, Pangbourne, Berkshire, England, where he was a noted sportsman. He attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in 1934, and was commissioned into the Royal Horse Guards in 1936. After the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Smiley’s regiment sailed for Palestine, where one of his first jobs was to shoot his troop of forty horses when it became clear they were of no use in modern combat.

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