Alick Buchanan-Smith, Baron Balerno

The grave of Alick Drummond Buchanan-Smith, Currie Cemetery

Lieutenant-Colonel Alick Drummond Buchanan-Smith, Baron Balerno CBE, JP, DSc, DL (9 October 1898 – 28 July 1984) was a British soldier and politician. He was the son of the Very Rev. George Adam Smith and the father of politician Alick Buchanan-Smith.

He served in World War I, 1916–18 with Gordon Highlanders; served in World War II, 1939–45 with 5 and 9 Battalions, Gordon Highlanders (in France), and as Director, Selection of Personnel, War Office. He was appointed a CBE in 1942 and he retired in 1956 with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He had held many positions in military education.

His genetics research earned him the degree of Doctor of Science from Aberdeen University and he lectured in genetics at Edinburgh University.

He was raised to the peerage on 8 June 1963 having been Deputy Chairman of the Unionist Party in Scotland (1960–1963).

He is buried with his wife, Mary Kathleen Smith of Pittodrie, and eldest son, Rev George Adam Buchanan-Smith (1929–1983) in the north-east corner of Currie Cemetery, next to their second son, Alick Laidlaw Buchanan-Smith.

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