Her father was a sturdy seaman, Admiral W.H.Smyth, K.S.F., and fortunately for her children she was trained in a school where neither Murdstone rigour nor sentimental coddling was regarded as an essential.

She was the kind of mother that rears brave men and true.

For discipline she relied solely on her children's sense of honour, and for the maintenance of her influence on their character she was content to trust to a never-wavering interest in all their sports, occupations, and hobbies.

Her children were encouraged to bear pain manfully, but they were not taught to crush their finer feelings.

A simple form of religion was inculcated, while the boys' natural love for humour was encouraged and developed.