Date of birth | 18 August 1879 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Place of birth | Banbridge, County Down, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of death | 5 April 1916 | (aged 36)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of death | London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Dungannon Royal School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | Trinity College, Dublin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Military career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Buried | Banbridge Municipal Cemetery | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Allegiance | United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service | British Army | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years of service | 1905–1916 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank | Major | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unit | Royal Army Medical Corps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Awards | Mentioned in despatches |
Major Robertson "Robbie" Stewart Smyth (18 August 1879 – 5 April 1916) was an international rugby player, who represented Ireland and Great Britain. Born in County Down, Ireland, he went to Dungannon Royal School, then studied medicine at Trinity College, Dublin, where he obtained his doctorate in 1904. After a year as house surgeon at Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital, he was commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1906, and went to India the following year.
Smyth captained the Dublin University 1st XV, and earned his first of three caps for Ireland, against England, in 1903. He was then invited to join the British Isles tour to South Africa, and played in all three test matches. He also played for the Barbarians on two occasions in 1902, and, after graduating from Trinity College, he played with Wanderers.
At the outbreak of the First World War, Smyth went to the Western Front, and remained there until December 1915, when he was invalided by exposure to gas, and retired to London. He was mentioned in despatches. Having given up his commission, he died a few months later in April 1916.