# Arthur Smout

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**Sir Arthur Smout** (18 November 1888 – 21 February 1961) was first [Director-General](/source/Director-General) of [Small Arms Production](/source/Firearm) for the [British Armed Forces](/source/British_Armed_Forces) during [World War II](/source/World_War_II) and later became Director-General of [Ammunition Production](/source/Ammunition) at the [Ministry of Supply](/source/Ministry_of_Supply).[1][2] Before the war Smout was [managing director](/source/Managing_director) of [Imperial Chemical Industries](/source/Imperial_Chemical_Industries) metals group and later served on the company's [board of directors](/source/Board_of_directors) until 1953.[1]

## Early life

Arthur John Griffiths Smout was born in [Birmingham](/source/Birmingham), [England](/source/England) on 18 November 1888, the eldest of three brothers. He was educated at [King Edward's School](/source/King_Edward's_School,_Birmingham) in Birmingham, and [Birmingham Municipal Technical School](/source/Aston_University). Smout started his career in 1905 as a student apprentice at Elliott’s Metal Co in Birmingham, while also studying part-time at [Birmingham University](/source/Birmingham_University) and gaining the full technological certificate of the [City and Guilds of London Institute](/source/City_and_Guilds_of_London_Institute) in 1909. He worked in various analytical chemistry and [metallurgy](/source/Metallurgy) positions at Elliot’s and by 1920 he had become works manager of the various Elliot’s factories.[1][2][3]

## Business career

From 1924 to 1934 Smout was production director of Elliott’s Metal Co, which became part of [Imperial Chemical Industries](/source/Imperial_Chemical_Industries) in 1928. He was appointed joint managing director of Imperial Chemical Industries metals group and then from 1936, chairman of I.C.I. Metals, Ltd which had factories in [Birmingham](/source/Birmingham), [Wolverhampton](/source/Wolverhampton), [Leeds](/source/Leeds), [Manchester](/source/Manchester) and [Swansea](/source/Swansea).[4] In 1944 he was appointed to the ICI main [board](/source/Board_of_directors) and remained as a Director until 1953. During his time with the company Smout was responsible for their ammunition and metal production. After retiring from [Imperial Chemical Industries](/source/Imperial_Chemical_Industries) in 1953 Smout was appointed chairman of [Murex Ltd](/source/Murex_(company))., and Murex Welding Processes, Ltd.[1]

## Military service

During [World War I](/source/World_War_I) Smout’s application to join active service was refused and he was transferred to the [army reserve](/source/Army_reserve), as his work with Elliot’s was regarded as war work.[1] According to his brother, Arthur invented a metallic [amalgam](/source/Amalgam_(chemistry)) which was used in shells which shot down the first [Zeppelin](/source/Zeppelin) over [London](/source/London).[5] Shortly after the outbreak of [World War II](/source/World_War_II), Smout hosted a visit by [King George VI](/source/King_George_VI) to the ammunition production at the [Imperial Chemical Industries](/source/Imperial_Chemical_Industries) site in [Witton](/source/Witton,_Birmingham) on 26 October 1939.[6] Smout was appointed first [Director-General](/source/Director-General) of Small Arms Production for the [British Armed Forces](/source/British_Armed_Forces) and then (in 1944) Director-General of [Ammunition](/source/Ammunition) Production at the [Ministry of Supply](/source/Ministry_of_Supply). He received his [knighthood](/source/Knighthood) for his war time service in 1946 from [King George VI](/source/King_George_VI).[1][2]

## Post-War career

In 1948, Smout bought the 330 acre Sherriffs Lench Farm in [Worcestershire](/source/Worcestershire) and farmed it (initially with his son Michael as manager) until his death in hospital in Birmingham on 21 February 1961, aged 72. His farm diaries and memoranda books for the period 1948 to 1961 are held in the [Worcester](/source/Worcester,_England) county archives.

## Personal life

Smout was married to Annie Hilda Follows and they had five sons. His youngest son, [Christopher Smout](/source/Christopher_Smout), is a historian, and the current incumbent of the post of [Historiographer Royal](/source/Historiographer_Royal_(Scotland)). Another son, His Honour David Smout, QC, was an [Official Referee](/source/Official_Referee).

Arthur gave much of his time to the advancement of science and to public service, particularly in his native city of [Birmingham](/source/Birmingham), where he was President of the Birmingham branch of the [British Chamber of Commerce](/source/British_Chamber_of_Commerce), a Life Governor and member of the Council of [Birmingham University](/source/Birmingham_University) and a [Justice of the Peace](/source/Justice_of_the_Peace) serving as a [City Magistrate](/source/Magistrate) at 500 sittings from 1942 to 1961.[1][2] He was also president of the [Institute of Metals](/source/Institute_of_Metals), a fellow of the [Royal Institute of Chemistry](/source/Royal_Institute_of_Chemistry), a fellow of the [Institution of Metallurgists](/source/Institution_of_Metallurgists), and vice-president of the [Institution of Mining and Metallurgy](/source/Institution_of_Mining_and_Metallurgy).[2] He was awarded an [honorary doctorate](/source/Honorary_doctorate) from the [University of Wales](/source/University_of_Wales) in 1954, in recognition of the work he had done for industry in the [Swansea](/source/Swansea) area and his contribution to technological education.[1]

## Coat of arms

After his knighthood Arthur was awarded a [coat of arms](/source/Coat_of_arms) from the [College of Arms](/source/College_of_Arms). The Latin motto, "Non Sibi Sed Toti", means "Not For Self But For All". The five stars represent Arthur's five sons and the two pears represent Arthur and his wife.

## References

1. Anon. Obituary of Sir Arthur John Griffiths Smout. Bulletin of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy. October 1961, Vol. 71, 659, pp. 46-7.

1. Jackson, H.E. Obituary of Sir Arthur Smout. Bulletin of the Institute of Metals. May 1961, Vol. 5, 21.

1. [Arthur John Griffiths Smout. Northern Mine Research Society. Online Cited: 22 September 2019.](https://www.nmrs.org.uk/resources/obituaries-of-members/obituaries-of-members-names-beginning-with-s/arthur-john-griffiths-smout/)

1. ICI. Under Five Flags: The story of the Kynoch Works, Witton, Birmingham 1862-1962. 1962.

1. Smout, C.F.V. Personal communication. 1971

1. Fraser, E. & Metcalf, J. A World of Engineering: The story of IMI 1862 - 2001. s.l. : Good Books, 2002. 0946555540.

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