R. D. Smith

Reginald Donald Smith (31 July 1914 – 3 May 1985) was a British teacher and lecturer, BBC radio producer, and possible communist spy. He was the model for the character of Guy Pringle in the novel sequence Fortunes of War written by his wife, Olivia Manning.

Early life Smith was born and brought up in the working-class neighbourhood of Aston Manor, Birmingham, the son of a toolmaker, William Smith and his wife Annie Griffiths, who supplemented the family income as a charwoman doing paid housework and cleaning. Reggie, as he was generally known, attended King Edward VI Grammar School, Aston; the family were frequently short of money since his father was often ill; to save expense, Smith never told his parents that he needed glasses for his very short sight.

According to MI5 files, Smith was recruited as a Soviet spy by the art historian Anthony Blunt during a visit to Cambridge in 1938. His flamboyant character and lifestyle was to cause some concern among other spies, who according to MI5 criticised his behaviour as not showing "the stability or competence that should distinguish a party member".

Romania, Greece, Egypt, Palestine After tackling multiple temporary jobs including actor, postal worker, archaeologist, editor, and teacher, Smith applied for a post with the British Council, and was posted as lecturer in English in Bucharest, Romania in 1938.

A few days later, Smith and his bride were recalled to Romania, arriving just as Britain declared war on Germany. Smith was exempt from military service due to his work with the British Council, though it is likely that his poor eyesight would have meant failing the required medical. During their 13 months in Romania, Smith and Manning witnessed the approaching war, including the abdication of King Carol and the rise of Fascism.

In October 1940, the couple escaped the rising fascism, fleeing to Athens, Greece. which he needed for his ongoing lecturing for the British Council. The pair's time spent in Greece and Egypt formed the foundation for the last four novels of the Fortunes of War.

In September 1942, the couple moved to Jerusalem, where Smith became the controller of programmes of the Palestine Broadcasting Service, later moving to the post of acting deputy postmaster-general for the Palestine government. Subsequently, released MI5 files say that throughout the war, Smith had been secretly working to increase Soviet influence in the countries where he was posted. Harold Pinter and Richard Burton were among those he helped in the early days of their careers. He was also well known for his passionate enthusiasm for chess, cricket and rugby,

Final years Smith took early retirement from the BBC, and in 1973 was appointed professor of liberal and contemporary studies at the New University of Ulster. He held the post until his retirement in 1979, when he was made professor emeritus. Smith was visiting professor of literary arts at the University of Surrey from 1979 to 1983, A well-liked and highly gregarious man, his funeral and PEN memorial meeting were standing room only.

Guy Pringle, Smith's fictional counterpart, was portrayed by Kenneth Branagh in the 1987 BBC television adaptation of the Fortunes of War.

Works The Writings of Anna Wickham: Free Woman and Poet. Edited and introduced by R.D. Smith. London 1984.