William Haskett Smith was born in 1850 and joined the 79th Highlanders in 1870 as an Ensign.

Throughout his successful career, Haskett-Smith progressed through the following ranks:

1870 – Ensign 79th Highlanders

1871 – Lieutenant 79th Highlanders

1873 – Captain Queens Own Cameron Highlanders

1885 – Major Queens Own Cameron Highlanders

He served throughout the Nile Campaign 1884-1885 and served as part of the Soudan Field Force between 1885-1886. He was present at the Battle of Kosheh as well as the Battle of Gniss, where the British troops wore their red tunics in battle for the last time.

In 1886 he became Adjutant of the 3rd (Volunteer Battalion) Seaforth Highlanders, and retired in 1893. Haskett-Smith died in Wandsworth, London in 1927.

Research by Neil Thompson-Burton

In his portrait, Haskett-Smith is wearing the Egypt Medal 1882 – 1889 (likely with a Tel-El-Kebir clasp, although this is not clearly painted on the portrait) alongside a Khedive Star 1882, which were awarded for his involvement in the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War.