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Page 10
HONOURS AND AWARDS
Monday, 26 January 2009 11:50:42 AM
Please note: Edward Vivian
SMYTHE was known as (Viv) and Earle Vernon
SMYTHE is known as (Vern)
Vivian
SMYTHE was born
13 May, 1891 – 2nd Lieut. 24 May 1915 - Lieut. 25 August 1916 – Capt. 19 May
1917 and in 2nd Garrison Battalion 12 October 1939. It stated that he was a
Major but no date of commissioning to that rank is known. (I found on his
service documents that he was shown as a T/Major on 2/7/1919 – Ed.) I have
included the details that she was given WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I
DOWNLOADED FROM THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL SITE FROM ARMY FORM W. 3121.
Uncle Vern
SMYTHE was born 20 August 1894 and was shown as enlisting on 27 August
1914 3rd Bn. – 2/Lieut. 11 May 1915 – Lieut 7 August 1915 – Capt. 30 May
1916 – transferred to 4th Bn. 19 December 1915 - Transferred – to 56th Bn.
10 February 1916 – wounded 2 April 1917.
EDWARD VIVIAN SMYTHE, Lieut. - 24th
Bn. Date of Recommendation for Mentioned in Dispatches ……1917….…. Army Form
W. 3121
'A very
plucky young officer who has shown great enterprise in action, and as a
patrol leader. His cheery manner in action has a marked effect on his men.'
EDWARD VIVIAN SMYTHE, Lieut. - 24th
Bn. Date of Recommendation for Military Cross …….9 March, 1917…….Army Form
W. 3121
'For
Gallant and skilful handling of his Platoon in action at DINKUM SPUR near
WARLENCOURT ON 26TH February 1917. He organised a strong patrol and held
CAMP TRENCH under close range machine Gun enfilade fire until relieved in
the evening. Accurate and valuable reports were received from this post
throughout the day, and the possession of a footing near MALT TRENCH was of
great value in the subsequent operations. …… '
Noted
details of the award of Vivian SMYTHE and Military Cross (event took place during the
German withdrawal from the Somme to Arras and Bullecourt) on the “Casualty
Form - Active Service.
Cont...
‘Awarded the
Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He organised
a strong patrol and maintained his position under heavy fire until
relieved. He set a splendid example of courage and determination
throughout.’
Also seen
the official letter to his wife Clytie SMYTHE and this used the same words.
EDWARD
VIVIAN SMYTHE, Captain, MC 24th Bt.
Date of Recommendation for Bar to Military Cross……..14 October, 1917…….Army
Form W. 3121.
'For conspicuous bravery near Broodseinde
(
The area now enclosed by the cemetery was dubbed Tyne
Cot by British troops who thought the German concrete pillboxes on the
skyline resembled Tyneside cottages. This formidable defensive position was
the objective for the Australian 3rd Division during the Battle of
Broodseinde Ridge on October 4th 1917. In the half-light of morning the
Australians advanced towards Tyne Cot, overcoming several German strong
points along the way. As they neared what is now the cemetery, machine guns
from five concrete pillboxes rained fire on them and casualties were heavy.
The two foremost pillboxes were so solidly constructed that they had been
dubbed 'Irksome' and 'The Barnacle', but they were overcome by small parties
of Australians who rushed them. The three other pillboxes in the immediate
area remained in German hands for several days.)
lead his coy in the attack
on DAISY WOOD on the 9th Oct. Throughout the day, he, at great personal risk
supervised the whole Battalion front as all other Company Commanders and
many platoon Officers had become casualties. His sound judgement made
communication with all the Company’s possible. And at all times he kept in
close touch with Battalion Headquarters. His personal reconnaissance
materially aided the clearing of DAISY WOOD. Thoroughness and clear
initiative inspired all ranks to offer material resistance to the enemy and
eventually permitted the formation of a strong defensive line.'
Cont...
The official
letter to Clytie
SMYTHE for his Bar to the Military Cross (much abbreviated to the
above report) at Daisy Wood is a follows:-–see C. W.
BEAN, Volume 4, Ch. 19, Page 896):-
'For
conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in supervising the whole
battalion front at great personal risk, after all other company commanders
and many platoon officers had become casualties. His personal reconnaissance
materially aided the clearing of the wood.'
PERCY
ELLESMERE SMYTHE, 2nd Lieut. – 24th
Bn. Date of Recommendation for Military Cross……13th September 1918……Army
Form W. 3121
'AT MT. ST.
QUENTIN near PERONNE during the operations on the 1st Sept. 1918, this
officer displayed marked courage.
When the
advance was held up by an enemy machine gun, he pushed forward, and working
to a flank in the face of heavy shell and machine gun fire, rushed the post,
killed four of the enemy, captured the gun together with three prisoners.
Later when
leading a bombing party down a trench, a barbed wire block was encountered.
2nd Lieut. SMYTHE remained at the
block and sniped the enemy enabling his party to withdraw to a more
favourable position from which they were able to continue the advance.'
Cont..
'This
officer displayed conspicuous courage and skill during operations at Mont.
St. Quentin on 1st September 1918. When the advance was held up by a hostile
machine gun, he pushed forward, and working to a flank in face of heavy
shell and machine-gun fire, rushed the post, killing four of the enemy and
capturing the gun with three prisoners, thus enabling the advance to
continue.'
(this information cannot be verified)
Cont.. .
LETTER FROM
GENERAL BIRDWOOD TO PERCY DATED 5 March, 1919 ...
'Have only
now been advised of the award to you of the Military Cross in recognition of
your exceptionally good and gallant work in our operations at Mont St.
Quentin on 1st September last, and write to congratulate you most heartily
on this well merited honour. When the advance was held up by machine gun
fire, you displayed great courage and initiative in pushing forward to the
flank of the post, which you then rushed under heavy fire from artillery and
machine guns, and captured the machine gun and three of the crew. The
success of your gallant action enabled the advance to be continued. Thank
you very much for your splendid work and with my kind regards and good
wishes.'
(From
Betty’s
SMYTHE report)
VERNON ERLE
SMYTHE, Lieut. 3rd Battalion-
6/8/1915 Lone Pine.
'Did
extremely good work as Acting Adjutant and Signalling officer to the 4th
Battalion on Lone Pine and in establishing telephone communication with
Brigade HXO across the open in daylight.'
Order of Merit.
(Shown on
reference card as M.I.D. – Mentioned in Dispatches).
VERNON ERLE SMYTHE, Captain – 56th Bn.
Date of Recommendation for the Silver Medal ……3 February, 1917……Army form W.
3121
'This
officer left Australia with the 3rd Battalion, 1st Australian division, in
the ranks, and won his Commission on the Gallipoli Peninsula, shortly after
the Landing. Captain SMYTHE served
throughout the Gallipoli Campaign from the Landing until the Evacuation. He
did very excellent work as Signalling Officer during the Lone Pine
operations and was personally responsible for running telephone wires across
“No Mans Land” and so keeping communication between our front lines and the
captured Turkish positions. For this work he was strongly recommended but
did not receive any award. During the period the Battalion has been in
France Captain SMYTHE has been
continually with the Battalion, and again distinguished himself during the
Fromelles operations last July, when he personally supervised the digging of
a communication trench across “No Man’s Land”, under heavy fire. This
officer has been very conspicuous in carrying out many difficult tasks
during the time the Battalion has been in the Somme area, and I cannot
recommend
him too highly for the Silver Medal.'
VERNON ERLE SMYTHE, Captain - 56th Bn.
Following the above Recommendation for the Silver Medal ------The
Recommendation for the Military Cross dated……9th March 1917…… from Army form
W 3121, gives a somewhat abbreviated report to the one above:-
'During the period the Battalion has been in France Captain
SMYTHE has
been continually with the Battalion, and distinguished himself during the
Fromelles operations last July, when he personally supervised the digging of
a communication trench across “No Man’s Land” under heavy shell fire.
This Officer has been very conspicuous in carrying out difficult tasks
during the time in the Battalion has been in the Somme area. He also did
good work in Gallipoli.'
VERNON ERLE SMYTHE, Captain – 56th Bn.
Date of Recommendation for the Bar to the Military Cross
……
5 October 1917 from Army Form 3121.
'Throughout the advance this Officer set a splendid example to his men. He
was always in the front of the advance and displayed great skill and
leadership in keeping his men in their formation. After capturing the final
objective when another senior officer had been killed he organised
consolidation of the left sector, supervising construction of posts under
heavy fire. He inspired great confidence in his men by his personal
disregard of danger and cheerfulness and it was owing to his efforts that a
large counter attack was beaten off. He would not rest until all danger was
passed and was on active duty for the first 24 hours. The late Commanding
Officer and the O.C. of the Battalion’s right sector (Captain Plemley) also
spoke in highest terms of Captain SMYTHE’S
soldierly qualities and powers of leadership. In addition to this three
N.C.O’s of his and the adjoining Company asked permission to give evidence
to this affect saying how much his splendid example inspired them and his
men.
I consider
him worthy of a Distinguished Service Order or at least a bar to his
Military Cross.'
Date and
place of action 26 Sept. – 1 Oct. 1917. POLYGON WOOD EAST OF YPRES.
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