Oral Historian Lyn Smith Passes Away at Age 91, Leaving Enduring Legacy
Lyn Smith, a distinguished oral historian, author, and lecturer who dedicated her career to preserving firsthand accounts of conflict, has died at the age of 91. Despite leaving formal education at 16, she returned to academia in her 30s and went on to make significant contributions through her work with the Imperial War Museum, the BBC, and the Open University.
Five Decades of Recording Conflict Testimonies
Over an impressive five-decade tenure as a freelance contributor to the Imperial War Museum's sound archive, Smith meticulously recorded thousands of hours of testimony. These recordings spanned conflicts from the Boer War to more recent engagements in Libya, capturing the diverse experiences of hundreds of individuals.
Her interviewees included a wide array of participants: veterans from all military ranks, diplomats, war brides, journalists, refugees, prisoners of war, scientists, and evacuees. This extensive collection forms a crucial part of historical documentation, providing personal perspectives on global conflicts.
Academic and Literary Achievements
Smith authored seven notable books throughout her career. Among these are Forgotten Voices of the Holocaust (2005) and People Power: Fighting for Peace from the First World War to the Present (2017). These publications drew extensively from Imperial War Museum projects in which she was actively involved, translating oral histories into accessible written narratives.
Born in Portsmouth, Lyn was the second of five children to George Fee, a sailor turned postman, and Lena (nee Moss), who had worked in domestic service. During the Second World War, her family was evacuated from Dulwich in south London to West Sussex, eventually settling in Fittleworth.
Educational Journey and Professional Path
After leaving Horsham High School at 16, Smith worked as a post office telegraphist and later as a shop assistant in Brighton. It was there she met Peter Smith, whose parents owned the wool shop where she worked. The couple married in 1959 and settled in Kingston near Lewes in 1964.
Smith's academic pursuits began soon after when she enrolled in the National Extension College for A-levels. She then joined the inaugural Open University cohort, earning a humanities and social sciences degree in 1975, followed by a master's in Russian studies from Sussex University in 1977.
Her expertise led to a commission from the BBC to write programs about Anglo-Soviet relations, initially for Radio Brighton and subsequently for the World Service in 1978.
Teaching Career and Personal Interests
Following her work with the BBC, Smith began freelancing at the Imperial War Museum while lecturing at the Open University and the Workers' Education Association. In the 1980s, she expanded her teaching to include the London campus of Webster University (later part of Regent's College, then University), and she taught at its St. Louis, Missouri campus for several semesters during the 1990s and 2000s.
Beyond her professional life, Smith enjoyed music, art, literature, gardening, crafting, and exploring the countryside around her home. She was an avid traveler, taking her first solo trip to France at age 19 and later visiting the Soviet bloc, China, Cuba, Iran, and North Korea when these destinations were rarely traveled.
Her husband Peter supported her endeavors as a researcher, route-planner, and travel companion until his death in 2018. Lyn Smith is survived by her three children, Alison, Katy, and the author of this obituary, along with two grandchildren, Martha and Iris.
