Victor Smith
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| Sir Victor Smith | |
|---|---|
| 3 May 1913 - 1998 | |
| Place of birth | Chatswood, New South Wales |
| Place of death | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
| Allegiance |  Australia |
| Service/branch |  Royal Australian Navy |
| Years of service | 1927 - 1975 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | Australian Defence Force Royal Australian Navy HMAS Melbourne (R21) HMAS Albatross HMAS Queenborough (G70) HMAS Quadrant (G11) |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of Australia Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Cross Mention in Despatches |
Admiral Sir Victor Alfred Trumper Smith AC, KBE, CB, DSC, RAN (9 May 1913 - 1998), was a senior officer within the Royal Australian Navy, eventually becoming the first Australian to achieve the rank of Admiral and serving as Chairman Chief of Staff Committee, the professional head of the Australian Defence Force.
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[edit] Early life
Victor Alfred Trumper Smith was born in Chatswood, New South Wales on 3 May 1913, to George and Una Smith. He was named after his uncle, Victor Trumper, the distinguished Australian cricketer.
Smith was educated at Chatswood Public School, where he participated in such sports as swimming, tennis and rugby.
[edit] Early career
Victor Smith entered the Royal Australian Naval College as a Cadet Midshipman in January of 1927, serving there for three and a half years before receiving a further six months of training at Flinders Naval Depot. In January of 1931, Smith was then posted to HMAS Canberra, and in May promoted to Midshipman.
In July, 1932, he left HMAS Canberra to join HMS London. The following July Smith was promoted to Acting Sub Lieutenant and sent to England for courses until October 1934. Smith then returned to HMAS Canberra, serving on the ship from January 1935 until March 1936, before being promoted to Lieutenant and posted to HMAS Australia.
After deciding to specialise in naval aviation, he left to proceed to England to do a Naval Observers Course. Upon graduation, he was posted to No. 825 Squadron aboard HMS Glorious, remaining on the ship until August 1939, when he left for England to do a Meteorological Course. Due to the outbreak of war, the course was abandoned and Smith was appointed to the new carrier HMS Ark Royal.
[edit] World War II
In 1940, Smith was serving with No. 821 Squadron, based at HMS Sparrowhawk. While based at Sparrowhawk, Smith led six Swordfish biplanes in carrying out the first ever torpedo attack by aircraft on a capital ship at sea. The raid was conducted against the German battleship Scharnhorst off the Norwegian coast. All six aircraft managed to return safely to land, and Smith received a Mention in Despatches.[1]
In 1941, Smith rejoined Ark Royal, serving on the ship until it was sunk off Gibraltar on 30 November, by the German submarine U-81.
During this period Smith was shot down twice, each time managing to be picked up by a destroyer. In the New Years Honours of 1942, Smith was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for "out-standing zeal, patience and cheerfulness and for setting an example of wholeheartedness devotion to duty".[2]
After the sinking of the Ark Royal, Smith returned to Australia, where he was appointed as Liaison Officer to the heavy cruiser USS Chicago until the 1st May, when he was appointed to HMAS Canberra as the Observer for aircraft. Smith served until on the cruiser until it was sunk during the Battle of Savo Island.
Smith was promoted to Acting Lieutenant Commander in March of 1943, and in July was appointed Air Staff Officer to HMS Tracker. He was then appointed Air Planning Officer on the staff of the Flag Officer, British Assault Area, Normandy, and in June took part in the Invasion of Normandy.
[edit] Fleet Air Arm
The Naval Board now decided to send Smith to the Admiralty, London, in order to obtain information that would assist in the planning and formation of a Fleet Air Arm in the Royal Australian Navy. He returned to Australia in 1947, as a member of the Australian Naval Aviation Planning Staff. Government approval for the formation of the Fleet Air Arm was given in July, and Smith was promoted to Commander in December. The Arm was created in August of 1948, in which Smith is considered the "father".
[edit] Later career
Smith was appointed Executive Officer of HMAS Sydney in 1950, and served on the ship during its four month tour of duty in the Korean War, between September of 1951 and January of 1952.[3]
Promoted to Captain in December of 1953, he was appointed director of Air Warfare Organisation and Training, and later commanding officer of the First Frigate Squadron, in command of HMAS Quadrant. Smith was the appointed to command HMAS Queenborough in 1956, and in the next January to command HMAS Albatross, the naval air station at Nowra, New South Wales.
After a year in London attending the Imperial Defence College, Smith returned to Australia to take command of the carrier HMAS Melbourne in January 1961. After eighteen months in command of the flagship, he was promoted to Acting Rear Admiral, with the rank made permanent in 1963. He was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire later that year.[4]
Smith became Flag Officer Commanding HMA Fleet in February 1966, serving in the position for twelve months before being appointed as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff. Promoted to Vice Admiral in April 1968, he was appointed Chief of Naval Staff, and in June awarded a Companion of the Order of the Bath.[5] The following year, Smith was knighted via Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.[6]
In November, 1970, Sir Victor Smith was appointed Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and promoted to the rank of Admiral; the first Australian to achieve that rank. In mid 1975, he was awarded the newly established Companion of the Order of Australia,[7] and retired the next November, just short of 49 years naval service.
[edit] Later Life and Death
Admiral Smith was active in his retirement, serving in various posts such as President of the ACT/Queanbeyan Division of Birthright, an Australia-wide organisation which assists single parents with dependent children, and as patron of the ACT Rugby League.
Admiral Sir Victor Smith passed away in 1998, at the age of 85.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by General Sir John Wilton KBE, CB, DSO |
Chairman Chief of Staff Committee 1970-1975 |
Succeeded by General Sir Francis Hassett AC, KBE, CB, DSO, LVO |
| Preceded by Vice Admiral Sir Allen McNicoll KBE, CB, GM, RAN |
Chief of Naval Staff 1968-1970 |
Succeeded by Vice Admiral Sir Richard Peek KBE, CB, DSC, RAN |
[edit] References
- ^ Legislative Assembly for the ACT - DEATH OF ADMIRAL SIR VICTOR SMITH, AC, KBE, CB, DSC
- ^ It's an Honour - Distinguished Service Cross
- ^ Korean War Nominal Roll
- ^ It's an Honour - Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- ^ It's an Honour - Companion of the Order of the Bath
- ^ It's an Honour - Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- ^ It's an Honour - Companion of the Order of Australia
[edit] External links
- Defence Force - Previous Chiefs
- World War II Nominal Roll
- Vietnam War Nominal Roll
