Harry Smith (Australian soldier)

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.^[1]

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.^[1] 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.^[2] 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.^[2][3] 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.^[2] D Coy was relieved at 6.55pm by A and B Companies, at which point the Vietnamese withdrew.^[2] 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.^[2] 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.^[2][3]

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).^[3] Several other personnel who fought at Long Tan had their bravery awards upgraded to correspond to the original nomination at the same time.^[3]

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

Notes