Bill Smyly

William Jocelyn Smyly was a soldier, journalist and educator. He was one of the last veterans of the two Chindit expeditions in the Burma campaign.

Early life

Bill Smyly was born in Peking and was educated at Wrekin College and joined the Army straight from school.

Soldier

Bill Smyly took part in two of the Chindits operations behind enemy lines in Burma. On the first one he made a hard-won escape after being separated from his unit.

After the war

After the war he went up to Clare College, Cambridge, reading History and English. He then became a journalist. After a stint in the UK he moved to Hong Kong working at the South China Morning Post. Then he took up Education, working at the Diocesan Boys' School, and eventually at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. After taking a post graduate degree at Leeds University he joined the British Council.