Harry Smith
Black and white photograph of Brigadier (Oliver) David Jackson pinning the Military Cross on Harry Smith in military uniform, 1967
Smith invested with the Military Cross from Brigadier Oliver David Jackson, 1967
Birth nameHarry Arthur Smith
Born(1933-07-25)25 July 1933
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Died20 August 2023(2023-08-20) (aged 90)
Buderim, Queensland, Australia
AllegianceAustralia
Service/branchAustralian Army
Years of service1952–1976
RankLieutenant Colonel
Service number6776[1]
Commands heldParachute Training School
1 Commando Company
D Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
Battles/warsMalayan Emergency
Vietnam War
AwardsStar of Gallantry[2]
Military Cross[3]
Knight of the National Order of Vietnam
Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)

Lieutenant Colonel Harry Arthur Smith, SG, MC (25 July 1933 – 20 August 2023) was a senior officer in the Australian Army, seeing service during the Malayan Emergency and the Vietnam War. He was the Officer Commanding D Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (D Coy, 6 RAR) during the Battle of Long Tan on 18 August 1966.

Early years

Harry Arthur Smith was born in Hobart, Tasmania, on 25 July 1933.[4][2]

Military career

After service as a National Serviceman, Smith joined the Australian Regular Army and graduated as second lieutenant from the Officer Cadet School, Portsea. He was subsequently posted to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in 1955 and later served during the Malayan Emergency between 1955 and 1957.[5]

Battle of Long Tan

From 8 June 1966 to 14 June 1967, Smith, then a major, was Officer Commanding D Coy, 6 RAR. On 18 August, after heavy mortar shelling of the Australian base at Nui Dat the previous night, companies from 6 RAR were sent out to locate the Vietnamese units involved. Smith led the 105 soldiers of D Coy and the 3 man NZ Artillery Party out on patrol, but at 3:15 pm, while patrolling a rubber plantation at Long Tan that afternoon, they encountered a reinforced regiment-sized Vietnamese force (the Viet Cong 275th Regiment, supported by the North Vietnamese Army 806 Battalion and D440 and D445 Battalions) 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 reinforced at 6:55 pm by a B Company Platoon then A Company in APCs, the Vietnamese having started to withdraw. 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 superior force, with at least 245 Vietnamese confirmed as killed, and another 500 believed wounded. 800 enemy killed or died from wounds were listed in records found in 1969. 9 Delta Company men were given gallantry 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.[4][6][7] Smith is portrayed by Travis Fimmel in the 2019 film Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan.[8]

Post-war service

Following service in Vietnam, Smith commanded 1 Commando Company at Georges Heights and was later posted as the inaugural Commanding Officer/Chief Instructor of the Parachute Training School.[9] Smith left the army in 1976 after a parachuting injury.[10]

Upgrading of award

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[2] (the Australian honours system replacement for the Commonwealth Distinguished Service Order). On the same day, two others who fought at Long Tan had their bravery awards upgraded to correspond to the original nominations.[7] On 9 March 2011, at the Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum, Smith was presented with the Star of Gallantry by local MP Paul Neville. Many of the Long Tan veterans were in attendance for the ceremony.[11]

Death

Harry Smith died in Buderim, Queensland, on 20 August 2023, only 2 days after the Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, at the age of 90.[12]

Honours and awards

RibbonDescriptionNotes
Ribbon of the Star of GallantryStar of GallantryAwarded 18 August 2008 for leadership and command whilst in command of Delta Company, 6 RAR, during the Battle of Long Tan in 1966.[2]
Ribbon of the Military CrossMilitary CrossAwarded for leadership and gallantry when commanding Delta Company, 6 RAR,
during the battle of LONG TAN on 18 August 1966.[3]
Australian Active Service Medal 1945–1975With clasps for active service in Malaya and Vietnam.
General Service Medal 1918–1962With Malaya clasp for service in the Malayan Emergency.
Vietnam MedalFor service in South Vietnam.
Defence Force Service MedalWith clasp, for 20–24 years service with the ADF
National Medal15–24 years service with an eligible organisation.[13]
Ribbon of the ADMAustralian Defence MedalFor eligible service in the ADF.
Anniversary of National Service 1951–1972 MedalFor service in post-war National Service schemes.
National Order of VietnamAwarded by the Republic of Vietnam for his command at Long Tan
Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with Bronze Palm)Awarded by the Republic of Vietnam for Command of D Coy 6 RAR at Long Tan, with Unit Citation.
Unit Commanders are entitled to Medal as well as Citation.
Vietnam Campaign MedalAwarded by the Republic of Vietnam for service in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
Pingat Jasa MalaysiaAwarded by the king and government of Malaysia for service in Malaysia.
Infantry Combat Badge
US Presidential Unit Citation
Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation
Australian Unit Citation for Gallantry
Parachute Jump Instructor badge
US Master Parachutist Badge

Notes

  1. ↑ "Harry Arthur Smith – Honours and Awards". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Star of Gallantry, 18 August 2008, Citation: For actions during the Vietnam War., itsanhonour.gov.au
  3. 1 2 Battle of Long Tan: Video – Military Cross Presentation Archived 11 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Department of Veterans' Affairs, vietnam-war.commemoration.gov.au
  4. 1 2 "Smith, Harry Arthur". Vietnam War Nominal Roll. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  5. ↑ Smith, Harry. "Malayan Memories – Harry Smith 1955–57" (PDF). Maryborough Military & Coloniel Museum. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  6. ↑ MacDougall 2002, pp. 336–7.
  7. 1 2 Dodd, Mark; Walters, Patrick (14 August 2008). "Long Tan veterans win medal battle". The Australian. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "Vikings actor Travis Fimmel starring in Long Tan movie to be filmed in Queensland". ABC News. 28 February 2018.
  9. ↑ Smith & McRae 2015, pp. 193–214.
  10. ↑ Smith & McRae 2015, p. 231.
  11. ↑ "Harry Smith". Author Detail. Big Sky Publishing. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  12. ↑ FitzSimons, Peter (21 August 2023). "Commander of Australian troops at Long Tan dies days after 57th anniversary". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  13. ↑ National Medal, 14 July 1977, itsanhonour.gov.au

References

  • MacDougall, A.K. (2002). Australians at War: A Pictorial History. Noble Park, Victoria: The Five Mile Press. ISBN 9781865038650.
  • Smith, Harry; McRae, Toni (2015). Long Tan: The Start of a Lifelong Battle. Newport, New South Wales: Big Sky Publishing. ISBN 9781922132321.

Further reading

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