Eric Smith (British Army officer)

Eric (E D) Smith
Birth nameEric David Smith
Nickname(s)Birdie
Born19 August 1923
Cupar, Fife, Scotland
Died7 March 1998
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Branch British Army
Years of service1942–1978
RankBrigadier
Battles / warsSecond World War
Malayan Emergency
Malaysia-Indonesia Confrontation
AwardsMBE, CBE
DSO

Brigadier Eric David "Birdie" Smith CBE DSO (19 August 1923 – 7 March 1998) was a senior British Army officer and military historian who was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, for leadership and gallantry on 3 September 1944, whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, the 7th Gurkha Rifles in Italy, during the Second World War. Smith later commanded the 1st/2nd Gurkhas in Brunei. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1975.