Harry Smith (Australian soldier)
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Colonel
Harry Arthur Smith SG
, MC
(25 July 1933 – ) was an officer of the Australian Army. He was Officer Commanding of D Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
(D Coy, 6RAR), and fought at the Battle of Long Tan
in the Vietnam War
.
Smith was born in Hobart
, Tasmania
on 25 July 1933.
After service as a National Serviceman, Smith joined the Australian Regular Army
and graduated as Second Lieutenant
from the Officer Cadet School, Portsea.
From 8 June 1966 to 14 June 1967, Smith, then a Major
, was Officer Commanding D Coy, 6RAR. On 18 August, after heavy mortar shelling of the Australian base at Nui Dat
the previous night, companies from 6RAR were sent out to locate the Vietnamese units involved. Smith led the 107 soldiers of D Coy out on patrol, but at 3.15pm, while patrolling a rubber plantation at Long Tần
that afternoon, they encountered a regiment
-sized Vietnamese force (the Viet Cong 275th Regiment, supported by the North Vietnamese Army D445 Battalion) attempting to advance on the base. A monsoon struck at the same time, but Smith organised his forces to successfully hold off the assault, while coordinating support from Australian, New Zealand, and United States artillery units back at Nui Dat. D Coy was relieved at 6.55pm by A and B Companies, at which point the Vietnamese withdrew. 18 Australians were killed and 24 wounded during the Battle of Long Tan
, but under Smith's command, D Coy had fended off a numerically superor force, with at least 245 Vietnamese confirmed as killed, and another 300 believed wounded. 15 Australians were given bravery awards, but many of these had been downgraded from the original nomination: Smith’s leadership of his men during the fierce fighting saw him recommended for the Distinguished Service Order
, but he instead received the Military Cross
.
Following service in Vietnam, Smith commanded 1 Commando Company at Georges Heights and was later posted to the Special Air Service Regiment in Perth, Western Australia
. Smith left the Army in 1976.
On 14 August 2008, after years of campaigning for better recognition of Long Tan veterans, Smith's Military Cross was upgraded to the Star of Gallantry
(the Australian honours system
equivalent to the Distinguished Service Order
). Several other personnel who fought at Long Tan had their bravery awards upgraded to correspond to the original nomination at the same time.
On 9 March 2011 at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Smith was presented the Star of Gallantry by local MP Paul Neville. Many of the Long Tan veterans were in attendance for the ceremony. Benjamin Roberts-Smith VC was also present; the SASR Corporal taking the time to talk about his time in Afghanistan after Smith had been presented the prestigious award.
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Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Harry Arthur Smith SG
Star of Gallantry
The Star of Gallantry is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force and other persons recognised by the Minister for Defence. It is awarded for acts of great heroism or conspicuous gallantry in action in circumstances of great peril...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(25 July 1933 – ) was an officer of the Australian Army. He was Officer Commanding of D Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment is a motorised infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in Brisbane, Queensland, on 6 June 1965 and has since then served in a number of overseas deployments and conflicts including South Vietnam, East Timor and Iraq...
(D Coy, 6RAR), and fought at the Battle of Long Tan
Battle of Long Tan
The Battle of Long Tân was fought between the Australian Army and Viet Cong forces in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tân, about north east of Vũng Tàu, South Vietnam...
in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
Smith was born in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
on 25 July 1933.
After service as a National Serviceman, Smith joined the Australian Regular Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
and graduated as Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
from the Officer Cadet School, Portsea.
From 8 June 1966 to 14 June 1967, Smith, then a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
, was Officer Commanding D Coy, 6RAR. On 18 August, after heavy mortar shelling of the Australian base at Nui Dat
Nui Dat
Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province was the location of a prominent Australian military base in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The site was chosen by Lieutenant General John Wilton in 1966 and was built mainly by men from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment...
the previous night, companies from 6RAR were sent out to locate the Vietnamese units involved. Smith led the 107 soldiers of D Coy out on patrol, but at 3.15pm, while patrolling a rubber plantation at Long Tần
Long Tan
For the footballer, see Long Tan. Long Tân , is a village in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province, Vietnam, at . When it was part of South Vietnam, it was in Phước Tuy province....
that afternoon, they encountered a regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
-sized Vietnamese force (the Viet Cong 275th Regiment, supported by the North Vietnamese Army D445 Battalion) attempting to advance on the base. A monsoon struck at the same time, but Smith organised his forces to successfully hold off the assault, while coordinating support from Australian, New Zealand, and United States artillery units back at Nui Dat. D Coy was relieved at 6.55pm by A and B Companies, at which point the Vietnamese withdrew. 18 Australians were killed and 24 wounded during the Battle of Long Tan
Battle of Long Tan
The Battle of Long Tân was fought between the Australian Army and Viet Cong forces in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tân, about north east of Vũng Tàu, South Vietnam...
, but under Smith's command, D Coy had fended off a numerically superor force, with at least 245 Vietnamese confirmed as killed, and another 300 believed wounded. 15 Australians were given bravery awards, but many of these had been downgraded from the original nomination: Smith’s leadership of his men during the fierce fighting saw him recommended for the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, but he instead received the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
.
Following service in Vietnam, Smith commanded 1 Commando Company at Georges Heights and was later posted to the Special Air Service Regiment in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. Smith left the Army in 1976.
On 14 August 2008, after years of campaigning for better recognition of Long Tan veterans, Smith's Military Cross was upgraded to the Star of Gallantry
Star of Gallantry
The Star of Gallantry is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force and other persons recognised by the Minister for Defence. It is awarded for acts of great heroism or conspicuous gallantry in action in circumstances of great peril...
(the Australian honours system
Australian Honours System
-History:The Commonwealth of Australia, until 1975, used the Imperial or British honours system. Only a handful of peerages were created for Australians, some in recognition of public services rendered in Britain rather than Australia. Some hereditary peers and baronets whose titles derive from...
equivalent to the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
). Several other personnel who fought at Long Tan had their bravery awards upgraded to correspond to the original nomination at the same time.
On 9 March 2011 at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Smith was presented the Star of Gallantry by local MP Paul Neville. Many of the Long Tan veterans were in attendance for the ceremony. Benjamin Roberts-Smith VC was also present; the SASR Corporal taking the time to talk about his time in Afghanistan after Smith had been presented the prestigious award.
Honours and awards
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
|
Star of Gallantry Star of Gallantry The Star of Gallantry is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force and other persons recognised by the Minister for Defence. It is awarded for acts of great heroism or conspicuous gallantry in action in circumstances of great peril... |
|
|
Military Cross Military Cross The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.... |
Awarded for Gallantry in commanding Delta Company 6 RAR during the battle of LONG TAN on the 18th August 1966 |
| |
Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975 | With Clasps for Malaysia and Vietnam |
| |
General Service Medal (1962) General Service Medal (1962) The General Service Medal , was introduced in 1962 to combine the General Service Medal , as awarded to the Army and RAF, and the Naval General Service Medal... |
South Vietnam |
| |
Vietnam Medal Vietnam Medal The Vietnam Medal was a joint Australian and New Zealand campaign medal awarded for service in the Vietnam War.The medal was jointly developed by Australia and New Zealand, although there were separate Royal authorisation warrants for each country.... |
South Vietnam |
| |
Defence Force Service Medal Defence Force Service Medal The Defence Force Service Medal is an Australian Military award given for long service by permanent members of the Australian Defence Force... |
20 Years Service |
| |
National Medal National Medal National Medal can refer to:* National Medal * National Medal of Arts* National Humanities Medal* National Medal of Science* National Medal of Technology and Innovation... |
15 Years Service with? |
|
Australian Defence Medal Australian Defence Medal The Australian Defence Medal is an Australian military decoration which recognises current and former Australian Defence Force personnel who completed an initial enlistment period, or four years service... |
|
| |
Anniversary of National Service Medal | Commemorating the Anniversary of National Service |
| |
National Order of Vietnam National Order of Vietnam The National Order of Vietnam was a combined military-civilian decoration of South Vietnam and was considered the highest honor that could be bestowed upon an individual by the Republic of Vietnam government.... |
National Order of Vietnam |
| |
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Vietnam Gallantry Cross The Vietnam Gallantry Cross was a military decoration of South Vietnam which wasestablished in August 1950. Also known as the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Gallantry Cross was awarded to any military personnel who have accomplished deeds of valor or displayed heroic conduct while fighting an... (Bronze Palm) |
Awarded by the Republic of Vietnam for Command of D Coy 6 RAR at Long Tan. |
| |
Vietnam Campaign Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal The Vietnam Campaign Medal is a military recognition awarded by the Republic of Vietnam, , to any member of the United States, Australian, New Zealand and allied military forces serving six months or more in support of Republic of Vietnam military operations.Established in 1966, the decoration is... |
Vietnam Campaign Medal |
| |
Pingat Jasa Malaysia Pingat Jasa Malaysia The Pingat Jasa Malaysia is a medal given by the King and Government of Malaysia. The name translates into English as the "Malaysian Service Medal". It was created in 2004 and is awarded to British and Commonwealth forces who served in Malaysia during the Malayan Emergency and the... |
Pingat Jasa Malaysia |
| Infantry Combat Badge Infantry combat badge The Infantry Combat Badge is awarded to members of the Australian Army for service as an Infantryman in warlike operations.-History:The ICB was first established in July 1970 for recognition of infantry service in battle or on operations, following the decision of the Military Board in January 1970... |
||