'Our Anzacs' PAGE 9

World War 1914-18

Friday, 07 January 2011 10:10:59 AM

Kaleidoscope Orchid

My dear grandfather Charles Sykes McIntosh JOHNSTON No. 2140 enlisted in the Navy before the First World War on 30 September 1912 (when he was 15 years old) as a “Boy” Sailor and was discharged on 14 July 1921.  He trained on the H.M.A.S. ‘Tingira’ and then served on the H.M.A.S. ‘Australia’, on H.M.A.S. ‘Cerberus’ (possibly for retraining), H.M.A.S. ‘Psyche’, H.M.A.S. ‘Tingira’ again (possibly a paper posting) and finally on H.M.A.S. ‘Melbourne’.  

 He saw service in the Far East, around Australia, the Bay of Bengal, Hong Kong and Europe.  He was on the H.M.A.S. ‘Melbourne’, when the Grand Fleet left from the Firth of Forth, Scotland, to rendezvous with the German High Seas Fleet on 21 November 1918.  I have a copy of the disposition of the ships sailing out and the changes for the escort of the German Fleet back to the Firth of Forth, after the Germans surrendered.  He was a stoker, as far as my uncle recalled but as an ordinary seaman, may have been allocated to other duties as well.  He told  many stories of the hardships that young sailors had to endure in those days but his memories of life on the ‘Psyche’ in particular, seemed to be mostly pleasant.  In spite of his long service, harsh conditions in the navy, difficult childhood, bring raised almost as an orphan, I never saw any evidence of any after effects and he was a kind and loving husband and father and grandfather.  My grandmother’s four brothers enlisted in the First A.I.F.  Below is a brief history of their service.   

Herbert (Bert) Andrew SMYTHE (b. 1890) No. 1175 enlisted on 27 August 1914, leaving for the Middle East with the 3rd Btn. on 20 October, 1914 on the ‘Euripides’.  On 5 April 1915 he proceeded to the Gallipoli Peninsula taking part in the historic 25 April 1915 landing and therefore the birth of the ANZAC legend.  He was promoted to Corporal on 7 April 1915 and wounded in action late April, when a ricocheting Turkish bullet hit him in the right shoulder and he was evacuated to hospital in England.  He was taken on strength at Overseas Base at Mustapha in August 1915 and returned to England in March of 1916, joining a Training Battalion there in July.  He wanted to join his three brothers, who were all fighting in the front lines in France and finally was able to proceed there in the 3rd Btn. reinforcements in April 1917.  However, his wish to rejoin in the fighting had tragic consequences for him, as he was killed at the 2nd Battle of Bullecourt on 3 May 1917.

Edward Vivian (Viv) SMYTHE (b. 1891, d. 1968) No. 6001l.  He enlisted 11 May 1915 finishing Officer Training before embarkation to the Middle East on 2nd November 1915 on the ‘Euripides’, arriving in Suez on 29 November 1915.  He was taken on strength 24th Btn.  on June 1916 and promoted Lieut. in August and served in France.  He received a Military Cross and Bar and was Mentioned in Despatches, ending the war as a Temporary Major.   He returned to Australia on 7 July 1919.  Full details of his Army career are in a report by his son Edward (Ted) SMYTHE on Page 15, with details of his service in World War 2 in Australia and New Guinea.     

Percy Ellesmere SMYTHE (b. 1893, d.1966) No. 2461.  He enlisted 11 May 1915 embarking for Middle East with 7th Reinforcements, 3rd Infantry Btn. on 14 July 1915 on the ‘Orsova’.  He was taken on strength 3rd Btn. at Gallipoli on 2 September 1915 but evacuated to Malta with pneumonia on 24 September 1915.  He rejoined his unit at Tel-el-Kebir and proceeded to France in March 1916 and transferred to 24th Btn. in September.  After service in France, he was sent to hospital in England and then returned to France.  He was taken on strength in the Officers Cadet Battalion in England and promoted to 2nd Lieut. after rejoining the 24 Btn (article 22. January 2009) and promoted to full Lieut. after the Armistice.  He was awarded the Military Cross, following action at Mont St. Quentin in October 1918. Percy kept detailed diaries started prior to his enlistment in 1915 until his return home in 1919. 

His edited the diaries at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.  He returned to Australia on 22 August 1919.

Vernon Erle SMYTHE (b.1894, d.1982) No. 1174, joined up with Herbert (Bert) on 20 September 1914 (this date varies to that of Bert) but they were allocated running nos. and we were told that they had enlisted together.  He left Australia on the same date as his brother and on the same ship (Euripides) and landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.   He was promoted to Temporary 2nd Lt. on 14 May 1915 and after the Gallipoli Campaign was finished, served in France.  He was in the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 56th Btns. and awarded a Military Cross and Bar together with a Mention In Dispatches and was a Captain when the war finished.  He returned to Australia on 8 January 1919.

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