Douglas James Smyth Crozier

Douglas James Smyth Crozier
CMG
Douglas James Smyth Crozier CMG
Born	20 March 1908; Ballinamallard, Northern Ireland
Died	17 November 1976 (aged 68); Tandragee, Northern Ireland
Occupation(s)	Educator, civil servant
Office	Director of Education
Term	1950–1961
Spouse	Ann Crozier

Douglas James Smyth Crozier,

CMG (20 March 1908 – 17 November 1976) was a British teacher, civil servant and the Director of Education

of Hong Kong.

Biography

Crozier was born in

King's College

. He was a founding member of the Hong Kong Teacher's Association.

He was a Captain in the 2nd Battery of the

Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps. He was captured by the Japanese on Christmas Day, 1941 after fighting at Stanley during the Battle of Hong Kong, and was held as a prisoner of war. His wife and children were evacuated to Sydney. He spent four years imprisoned at the Argyle Street Officers' Camp, and then at Shamshuipo.^[2]^[3] After the war he became an editor of the Hong Kong Teacher's Association's journal, the Path of Learning. He was appointed the Director of Education from 1950 to 1961 and also an official member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong in that capacity. He was also the member of the Court and Senate of the University of Hong Kong. In 1956, he became an official member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong.^[4]

During his service as the Director of Education, he was responsible for the establishment of the Evening School of Higher Chinese Studies; the Grantham Training College, and the New Technical College; a seven-year primary school expansion programme; the development of post-secondary colleges towards degree-granting status, grant-in-aid schemes to three colleges; schemes that provide aid to a host of private schools in Hong Kong.

Crozier retired in 1961 and returned to the United Kingdom.[2] He died in Tandragee, Northern Ireland on 17 November 1976 at the age of 68.^[3]

Honours

For his contributions to the development of Hong Kong's education system,

King George V School in Kowloon, is also named after him.^[7]

Personal life

Crozier met his wife Ann, a native Londoner, at the University College London, where they were both studying education. They had three

children, Julian and Corin and Douglas Jr

References

^ "Crozier Douglas James Smyth". Roll of Honour.
^ ^a ^b "Director of Education recalls pleasing aspects of work here". South China Morning Post. 20 April 1961. p. 6.
^ ^a ^b "Crozier dies in N. Ireland". South China Morning Post. 20 November 1976. p. 1.
^ ^a ^b "Douglas James Smyth CROZIER". University of Hong Kong.
^ "New Year honours list: C.M.G. award for the Hon. D.J.S. Crozier". South China Morning Post. 1 January 1957. p. 1.
^ ^a ^b "Former education director honoured". South China Morning Post. 13 May 1969. p. 5.
^ "History". King George V School. Retrieved 16 February 2018.

Government offices
Preceded by Thomas Richmond Rowell	Director of Education 1950–1961	Succeeded by Peter Donohue

[1] "Crozier Douglas James Smyth". Roll of Honour.

[pleasingaspects-2] "Director of Education recalls pleasing aspects of work here". South China Morning Post. 20 April 1961. p. 6.

[obit-3] "Crozier dies in N. Ireland". South China Morning Post. 20 November 1976. p. 1.

[citation-4] "Douglas James Smyth CROZIER". University of Hong Kong.

[honourslist-5] "New Year honours list: C.M.G. award for the Hon. D.J.S. Crozier". South China Morning Post. 1 January 1957. p. 1.

[cuhkdegree-6] "Former education director honoured". South China Morning Post. 13 May 1969. p. 5.

[KGV-7] "History". King George V School. Retrieved 16 February 2018.

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