Friday, June 3, 2016

Brief Sketch of Sir Jeffrey Hillpig-Smyth & a Walking Stick

I recently aquired a walking stick with the above label, so I had to google it and find out more. I tell you this is a fascinating read and he is officially still missing. Love this bit....

"The latest, as recent as the last monsoon, has Hillpiggy on elephant leading a small group of well disciplined guerrillas near Kuhn Sa's stronghold at Nam King." 

Brief Sketch of Sir Jeffrey Hillpig-Smyth

Born London 1910.
As a schoolboy - overweight, few friends, poor student, non-athletic yet polite, called Hillpiggy by the staff.
Harrow 1928.
Sent down from Oxford for indecency, 1930.
Unsuccessfully stood for parliament, as an independent from the small constituency of Looting on the Thames, finishing fourth in a field of three, 1934.
Alcoholic 1935.
Published at his own expense an angry and spirited collection of short essays entitled, Sticks and Stones 1936.
Alcoholic again 1937.
Published a second collection of short essays entitled Mudpuddles and Other Outrages 1938.

  

Joined Military Intelligence and Engineering; the elite I&E group, 1939.
Assigned to British Special Forces, Mandalay, British East India (Burma), 1940.
Recovering from a minor fall, designed the Military Trekking Stick 1941.
Disappeared while on a morning mini trek within the Special Forces compound. A search party was organised and diligently combed the 3 acre area for well over an hour, sadly to no evail 1944.
Queen Elizabeth II knighted Hillpig-Smyth in absentia, for contributions to British War Protocol 1953.
Officially still missing Sep 1992.
Unofficially, over the years there have been periodic sightings of Hillpiggy in the Burmese jungle.
The latest, as recent as the last monsoon, has Hillpiggy on elephant leading a small group of well disciplined guerrillas near Kuhn Sa's stronghold at Nam King. Further information is available by writing.
Find the Hillpig Society
8/1 Arrak Road Soi 7
Chaing Mai
Thailand 50000
The reward of 25 pounds sterling for information confirming Hillpiggy's status remains in effect.
enquiries to teaklimey@hotmail.com

Article curtesy travel-magazine-uk.com

13 comments:

Kate Sarsfield said...

Aw, poor Hillpiggy. Sounds like he had a really tough life.

Krishenkas Treasures said...

Have to say I felt a bit sorry for him too, not the best starting of with a name like that!

Pinkflorentina said...

What a great tale of a life actually lived. Bet he never wanted to be found

Mary Mac said...

Love this wonderful historical story. Very nice piece to have.

Krishenkas Treasures said...

I think you might be right Pink.

Krishenkas Treasures said...

Indeed Mary and until the other day had never heard of him, so decided to google the name on the cane, never expected this story but glad I found it.

Unknown said...

I bought a "Hillpig" walking stick some years ago in Burma, took it out for a walk a few days ago and read the brass plate for the first time - my curiosity was aroused, read with facination about "Hillpiggy),especially how he went missing in a 3 acre compound - sort of reminds one Jim Thompson missing in Thailand
But - a great walking stick, I live on a wine farm in Franschhoek South Africa, and the stick is good for walking and fending off snakes, and the occasional Lynx and rare mountain leopard.

Joe Kilian said...

The "unknown said" in the above comment is Joe Kilian, semi-retired Electrical consultant now living on my small wine farm in paradise in Franschhoek SA, making some great Shiraz and Chenin plus Olive oil etc

Unknown said...

Love this Pythonesque story - could be straight out of the Michael Palin series of Ripping Yarns.
When a subsequent sighting of him has him in Switzerland training the navy there, the credibility of the most gullible reader finally snaps.

Anonymous said...

Bought one in Thailand ten years ago. Use it during recovery from knee replacement surgery. Sturdy and reliable.

Anonymous said...

Use it with rubber tip.

Anonymous said...

Bought mine from the store in Burma thieland about 15 years ago. Have traveled allover Europe china,marrocco,and in the states and I love it.had it repaired while boating the Danube .it also helped me to walk the pyramids while in Egypt

Clifford Santa Maria said...

Jim Thompson aka The Silk King actually disappeared while holidaying in the trees growing district of Cameron Highlands in Malaysia in 1967. Yes like Jefferey Smyth, yet to be found.

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