Welcome to Harold
Smith's Libertas Homepage
Libertas is dedicated to
issues of freedom of information and in particular to treason by the British in
1) War; 2) Plea
for British Honour; 3) Biographical Information; 4) Contact Information
Autobiography – “A
Squalid End to Empire: British Retreat from
I witnessed this. The truth
was concealed from the British people. I thought one family
should hold true to
My story is being told in
We have had a rough old ride since 1956 when I
refused orders and took a stand for civilised values in
Last Revised: 7 March 2011
First
let me apologise that this site has not been available since the middle of
December 2010. Harold was updating the site at that time and had not finished
his task before he was taken ill on 25 December, rushed to hospital and died
there on 3 January 2011. Then let me thank all those who have been in touch
with me and our daughters over the last two months for their kindness, sympathy
and support. As a tribute to my beloved husband, I am introducing this site
with a selection of the Humanist Funeral
Ceremony that took place in
A Humanist Funeral Ceremony to celebrate the
life of Harold Smith
Born in 1927. Died on 3 January 2011
Address
by Janet Pryke, Humanist Celebrant
“
Harold will be remembered in so many ways, but especially, as his family have
told me, as a man of big, big spirit. The memory of this spirit will continue
through his death, as part of our humanity that grows and endures. He will
continue to be remembered through his life, and as part of all your lives.
His
life began in
Back at
They
married in 1952. Carol continued to work for her degree in
Their
first daughter Helen was born in 1954 in
However
during that posting Harold was asked to be part of some pre-election
organisation that he recognised as corrupt and undemocratic. What could a man
like him do but protest? He did. He did go back to
He then
went to the Colonial Office. His story was checked, and he was able to go back
to
This
all took a great toll on him, and he was also affected physically, as he
developed coeliac disease. But he continued to be positive and constructive.
Carol worked and developed her career in education, and he acted as
house-husband – unusual for those days - and cared for the children. Alongside
that he wrote novels and plays and many other things. He continued to be active
politically, with his work, and together with Carol. This partnership continued
to be so important to him. They lived their life in their love.
It was
a happy family life. His daughters could tell him anything. They loved going
for walks and playing in the garden with him and listening to his stories. He
was later a wonderful grandfather to Helen’s son Tom. He was tender-hearted and
was always so generous.
He also
remained close to his brothers and sisters and I will now invited his nephew
Gordon to speak about his uncle.”
My Uncle Harold
It was in the 1950’s when I first became aware
of an Aunty and Uncle who lived in
Harold’s involvement in international affairs
and his concern for people is well documented. However, alongside this, I know
Harold loved and cared for all members of his own family.
Our large Smith family were spread around the
suburbs of
The strength of the blue tissue paper of an
airmail letter, and the words written on it, had the strength to help a family
stay together. It’s strange to think that most of the family news from just
five miles away travelled a round trip of seven thousand miles.
Upon visiting Harold in Hospital, where he
had been moved to the intensive care unit, I was joined by Carol and we spoke a
while before the nurse indicated we could now go on in.
Harold unexpectedly was neither asleep or
drowsy and I was surprised to see him in deep discussion with the ward sister.
Harold just wanted a yoghurt, as his throat was dry, and a yoghurt would just
do the trick. The nursing staff were keen to complete their ministrations but
for Harold the yoghurt was more important. Eventually Harold won the day – a
strawberry yoghurt – a negotiated settlement.
Carol let him know that I had come to see
him. As always, even though I usually dropped in unannounced, Harold was warm
and welcoming,
He really didn’t see why he was in Hospital –
if he could just go home his GP would sort all his issues out, and she would do
it with common sense. He had been discussing this with Carol, but she had
remained silent on this issue. I suggested that when a man, lying in bed
surrounded by four beautiful women, most men would be grateful their wife
remained quiet. I suggested that this maybe was the time to use all his
diplomatic skills and mount a charm offensive to get what he wanted from Carol
and the nurses.
Harold brushed his hand back through his
hair, paused and then said, “I think you could be right Gordon. I’ll give it a
try” and then he laughed, which set me off laughing, which made him laugh a
little more. We had a combined age of 143 years of age and we were laughing
like two schoolboys.
The stories related to me of his time in
Finally I question whether, given a similar
position to Harold’s, would I have had the tenacity and courage to maintain a
campaign for as long as he did. To face threats and derision as he must have
done. To date, I have never had to face these challenges, but Harold has
already answered all and any question asked of him, and in so doing has lifted
the benchmark for integrity to a new, high level.”
“In his
life, Harold’s work endeavours were in a range of areas, including the Civil
War in Manchester, the comprehensive education system, and nutrition,
especially relating to his condition, - as well as, of course, Nigeria.
His
interest in
I will
now invite his friend Taiwo Akinola to give his eulogy for Harold.”
Taiwo
Akinola speaks.
How do
we measure greatness and what do we want to be remembered for?
As we commit Mr Harold Smith to mother earth
today, he follows in the footsteps of other men of history, such as Galileo,
Tom Paine, Socrates, among others who had the courage to tell the authority the
truth, and then were punished for it. The stories of these great men are not
complete without references to those who oppressed them; they had their
moments, but today they are remembered for all the wrong reasons while history
has vindicated the punished and their contributions are cherished.
If Mr Smith had not lived for something
positive, our gathering today would have simply been a commemoration of a
beloved father, husband and friend which would have more than justified the
sombre mood of all gathered here . However, Harold lived a principled and
righteous life which affected many lives, and thus, as we celebrate the end of
his earthly journey, we are consoled by the fact that his ideas will live on
through future generations. Harold, who treated his conscience as a judge,
witness and friend, serves as a current and future model for humanity to follow.
Mr Smith was a true believer in the truth. He
stood as ‘a firm reminder and caring presence of what ought to be and can be,
in this world’; ‘an incorruptible man who was unusual in his passion for the
truth.’
Sir James Robertson was said to be great, but
Harold did not try to copy his so-called greatness, which only merited no more
than the curses of humanity as he’s remembered for anguish he spread in Sudan
and Nigeria, which he served as the last Governor General.
Harold, you lived for your ideas that
goodness is just, inhumanity is unjust. You were right in those beliefs. Your
ideas will live after you. Harold, forever we will remember you.
Rest in Peace.”
Period of Quiet Reflection
This
recognition is so important to Harold’s life. But in all the other parts of his
life you will all have your own memories of him. I now invite you to reflect
for a while on what Harold meant to you personally, in your own way. Those of
you with religious faith may like to use these moments for prayer. The music we
will hear is one of his favourite forms, a Gregorian chant.
THE COMMITTAL
We now
come to our taking leave of Harold. I will say a few words, then his grandson
Tom will play “One Hand, One Heart” on
his trumpet:
Harold
We
rejoice that you have lived
We
are glad that we saw your face.
We
took delight in your friendship.
We
treasure that we walked life with you;
We
cherish the memory of your words,
Your
achievements, your character, your qualities.
With love we
leave you in peace.
With
respect we bid you farewell.
“One Hand, One Heart”, from
[
not spoken ] Make of our lives
one life,
Day after day, one life.
Now it begins, now we start
One hand, one heart,
Even death won’t part us now.
Closing words
Following
this ceremony, our celebration of the life of Harold, you will continue with
your lives. In those you will always have the benefit of having known him. His
great legacy will continue as you move forward, as you let him live on in your
hearts.
In
doing this, your living each day positively would be the wish of Harold, and I
feel this thought is very well expressed in the following piece:
Look to this day… for it is the very
life of life
In
its brief course lie all the realities and truths of existence.
The
joy of growth, the splendour of action, the glory of power.
For
yesterday is but a memory and tomorrow is only a vision
But
today – well lived – makes every yesterday
A memory of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well therefore to this day.
Sanskrit
text
We will
look well to this day.
We will
now leave this room to another piece of music that Harold and his girls loved
to sing together when the children were small in
Final
Music: “Sugar Time” sung by Alma
Cogan
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The History of Britain is the History of War.
This was the biggest of the many, dirty, bloody British wars since 1945. Both the Conservative and Labour and Liberal leadership cliques work together to plan and operate and cover up all this mayhem with total press, media, and establishment co-operation.
The
* Address: Turnpike House, Widbrook, Bradford-on-Avon,
* Phone Number: 01225 862 725
! * E-mail: csmith@libertas.demon.co.uk
Information is sought by former British Government senior civil servant Harold
Smith (Nigeria 1955-1960) regarding British treason, including the rigging of
British officials served with great honour and distinction in
Sadly, many old
Permission to publish this material was sought and granted by the Cabinet Office and D-Notice Committee, subject to an agreement that no Secret Service officials should be named. May I request correspondents to respect my obligation in this matter and to kindly withhold such personal details. Cabinet Office letters of March/April 1993, reference A093/927/1152/1281, and Ministry of Defence letter DM/1712/DPBC of 13 January 1993 refer.
HAROLD SMITH (Born 29 April 1927):
Tel: 01225 862 725
Turnpike House,
Widbrook, Bradford-on-Avon,
