Dacre Henry Deudraeth Smyth AO

Order of Australia

The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...

 [1923-2008] was an Australian artist and naval officer who participated in the D-Day landings and the Battle of the Coral Sea

Battle of the Coral Sea

The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States and Australia. The battle was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged...

. He joined the Royal Australian Navy

Royal Australian Navy

The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...

 in 1940, retiring as a commodore in 1978.

He was the son of the distinguished British general Nevill Maskelyne Smyth

Nevill Maskelyne Smyth

Major General Sir Nevill Maskelyne Smyth, VC, KCB was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early life:Born the son of Sir Warington Wilkinson Smyth, a noted...

 VC

Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....

, KCB.

He served as Deputy Chairman of the Trustees of Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance

Shrine of Remembrance

The Shrine of Remembrance, located in Kings Domain on St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Australia was built as a memorial to the men and women of Victoria who served in World War I and is now a memorial to all Australians who have served in war...

and was a Life Governor of the Shrine. He became well known after his retirement for landscape and seascape painting, publishing fourteen books containing his paintings and poems. He married Jennifer Haggard in 1952, and had four daughters and a son.

Works

1. Smyth, Dacre (1979) The bridges of the Yarra: A book of paintings, poetry and prose; with a foreword by Sir John Bloomfield.

2. Smyth, Dacre (1980) The lighthouses of Victoria: A second book of paintings, poetry and prose; with a foreword by Sam Benson.

3. Smyth, Dacre (1982) Historic ships of Australia: A third book of paintings, poetry, and prose; with a foreword by Admiral Lionel Lockwood.

4. Smyth, Dacre (1982) Old Riverboats of the Murray: A fourth book of paintings, poetry and prose.

5. Smyth, Dacre (1984) Views of Victoria in the steps of von Guérard: A fifth book of paintings, poetry and prose; with a foreword by Sir William Dargie.

6. Smyth, Dacre (1986) The Bridges of Kananook Creek: A sixth book of paintings, poetry and prose; with a foreword by Chester Nevett.

7. Smyth, Dacre (1988) Waterfalls of Victoria: A Seventh Book of Paintings, Poetry and Prose.

8. Smyth, Dacre (1990) Gallipoli Pilgrimage: An Eighth Book of Paintings, Poetry and Prose.

9. Smyth, Dacre (1992) Immigrant ships to Australia: A ninth book of paintings, poetry and prose; with a foreword by Marten A. Syme.

10. Smyth, Dacre (1994) Pictures in my life: an autobiography in oils: A tenth book of paintings, poetry, and prose.

11. Smyth, Dacre (1998) Images of Melbourne: (an A to Z of the Melbourne scene): An eleventh book of paintings, poetry and prose.

12. Smyth, Dacre (2001) Australia from the air: A twelfth book of paintings, poetry and prose

13. Smyth, Dacre (2003) Australia from the sea: A thirteenth book of paintings, poetry and prose.

14. Smyth, Dacre (2005) The Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia: A fourteenth book of paintings, poetry and prose.