Victor Smith

Infobox Military Person
name= Sir Victor Smith
lived= 3 May 1913 - August 1998
placeofbirth= Chatswood, New South Wales
placeofdeath= Canberra, Australian Capital Territory


caption=
nickname=
allegiance= flagicon|Australia Australia
serviceyears= 1927 - 1975
rank= Admiral
branch= navy|Australia
commands= Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee
Chief of Naval Staff
HMAS Melbourne (R21)
HMAS Albatross
HMAS Queenborough (G70)
HMAS Quadrant (G11)
unit=
battles=Second World War
* Battle of Savo Island
* Battle of Guadalcanal
* Battle of the Atlantic
* Invasion of Normandy
Korean War
Vietnam War
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
laterwork=
Admiral Sir Victor Alfred Trumper Smith AC, KBE, CB, DSC, RAN (9 May 1913 – August 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, Chiefs of Staff Committee; the professional head of the Australian Military.

Early life

Smith was born in Chatswood, New South Wales on 3 May 1913, to George and Una Smith, and was named after his uncle, Victor Trumper, a distinguished Australian cricketer. He was educated at Chatswood Public School, where he participated in such sports as swimming, tennis and rugby and was also a member of the Chatswood Wolf Cub Pack.cite web|url=http://www.navyhistory.org.au/admiral-sir-victor-smith-ac-kbe-cb-dsc/|title=Admiral Sir Victor Smith, AC, KBE, CB, DSC|accessdaymonth=9 September|accessyear=2008|author=Albert Birch|publisher=Naval Historical Society of Australia]

Early career

After deciding to embark on a naval career, Smith entered the Royal Australian Naval College as a Cadet Midshipman in January 1927. [cite web|url=http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/veteran.asp?ServiceID=N&VeteranID=1196200|title=SMITH, VICTOR ALFRED|accessdaymonth=9 September|accessyear=2008|work=World War II Nominal Roll|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia] He attended the college for three-and-a-half years before receiving a further six months of training at Flinders Naval Depot. In January 1931, Smith was then posted to HMAS "Canberra", and in May was promoted to Midshipman. In July the following year, he was posted to HMS "London" for service with the Mediterranean Fleet. Promoted to acting sub lieutenant, Smith was sent to England where he assumed a number of courses until October 1934, when he returned to HMAS "Canberra". He served with the ship until March 1936, when he was promoted to lieutenant and posted to HMAS "Australia".

After deciding to specialise in naval aviation, Smith proceeded to England to attend a Naval Observers Course in March 1937. Upon graduation, he was posted to No. 825 Squadron aboard HMS "Glorious" in the Mediterranean. He remained on the ship until August 1939, when he left for England to attend a Meteorological Course. However, due to the outbreak of war, the course was abandoned and Smith was appointed to the new carrier HMS "Ark Royal".

Second World War

In 1940, Smith took part in operations off Norway with "Ark Royal", before receiving a posting to No. 821 Squadron based at RNAS Hatston. On 21 June, he 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 while subject to heavy anti-aircraft fire. The "Scharnhorst" obtained no hits by the torpedos, and all six aircraft managed to return safely to land. For his actions during the attack, Smith received a Mention in Despatches. [LondonGazette|issue=34979|date=25 October 1940|startpage=6228|supp=yes|accessdaymonth=10 September|accessyear=2008] [cite web|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/awm192/00203/002030548.pdf|title=Recommendation for Victor Alfred Smith to be awarded a Mention in Despatches|accessdaymonth=28 August|accessyear=2008|format=PDF|publisher=Australian War Memorial]

In August, Smith was sent to join No. 807 Fighter Squadron aboard HMS "Pegasus". The ship was used to protect convoys in the Western Approaches against the German Condor aircraft. In February 1941, the squadron joined HMS "Furious", and was tasked with the the protection of shipping off the African coast. In April, the squadron joined "Ark Royal", where Smith served on until the ship was sunk off Gibraltar on 30 November by the German submarine "U-81". During this time, Smith had been 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". [cite web|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/awm192/00203/002030547.pdf|title=Recommendation for Victor Alfred Smith to be awarded a Distinguished Service Cross|accessdaymonth=28 August|accessyear=2008|format=PDF|publisher=Australian War Memorial] cite web|url=http://www.hansard.act.gov.au/Hansard/1998/week05/1324.htm|title=DEATH OF ADMIRAL SIR VICTOR SMITH, AC, KBE, CB, DSC|accessdaymonth=10 September|accessyear=2008|publisher=Legislative Assembly for the ACT]

After the sinking of the "Ark Royal", Smith returned to Australia where he was appointed as liaison officer to the United States Navy heavy cruiser USS Chicago. He served in this position until May, when he was appointed to HMAS "Canberra" as the observer for aircraft. Smith served aboard the cruiser until it was sunk in the Battle of Savo Island during the Guadalcanal landings on 9 August 1942. Returning to Australia once more, he was appointed to the Amphibious Training School, HMAS Assault, for a short period prior to being appointed to stand by HMAS "Shropshire". Promoted to acting lieutenant commander in March 1943, in July Smith was appointed Air Staff Officer to HMS "Tracker", an American built escort carrier which was operating in the Battle of the Atlantic and escorting Russian convoys. During this time, the aircraft aboard "Tracker" managed to assist in the sinking of two German U-boats and shoot down six German long-range planes.

Promoted to lieutenant commander in 1944, Smith was posted as the Air Planning Officer on the staff of the Flag Officer, British Assault Area for the Normandy invasion. He was next appointed Air Planning Officer on the staff of the Vice Admiral (Q), British Pacific Fleet, retaining this position until 1 October 1945.

Fleet Air Arm

The Naval Board now decided to send Smith to the Admiralty in 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 January 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 Fleet Air Arm was officially established on 28 August 1948, in which Smith has become widely known as the "Father of the Fleet Air Arm." [cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/index.php/Fleet_Air_Arm_Museum_Display_-_Beginnings_(1917_-_1947)|title=Fleet Air Arm Museum Display - Beginnings (1917 - 1947)|accessdaymonth=11 September|accessyear=2008|publisher=Royal Australian Navy]

Later career

Smith was appointed Executive Officer of HMAS "Sydney" in January 1950, and served on the ship during its six month tour of duty in the Korean War between August 1951, and February 1952. [cite web|url=http://www.koreanroll.gov.au/veteran.aspx?id=1216329|title=SMITH, VICTOR ALFRED|accessdaymonth=28 August|accessyear=2008|work=Korean War Nominal Roll|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia] During this time, the Fleet Air Arm was conducting operations over Korea from "Sydney"; the first time it was in action. In April 1952, Smith was appointed to command the Advance Party at the former Royal Australian Air Force Air Station at Schofields. When Schofields was commissioned as HMAS "Nirimba" in April 1953, Smith was appointed Chief Staff Officer to the Captain (Air) Australia. He left this position in July to become Director of Air Warfare Organisation and Training at Navy Office, Melbourne and was promoed to captain in the New Year.

In June 1955, he was appointed Captain of the 1st Frigate Squadron in command of HMAS "Quadrant", prior to assuming command of HMAS "Queenborough" the following year. In January 1957, Smith was appointed to command HMAS "Albatross", the naval air station at Nowra, New South Wales. He served in this position until November 1959, when he was selected to attend the Imperial Defence College, London.

After a year in London, 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 in 1962. The rank made permanent in 1963, and Smith served as Second Naval Member at the Navy Office. In the Queen's Brithday Honours of the same year, he was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. [LondonGazette|issue=43011|date=8 June 1963|startpage=4827|supp=yes|accessdaymonth=28 August|accessyear=2008]

Smith's next appointment was as Fourth Naval Member, which lasted twelve months. In February 1966, he was appointed as Flag Officer Commanding HMA Fleet prior to assuming the office of Deputy Chief of Naval Staff. Promoted to vice admiral in April 1968, Smith was appointed Chief of Naval Staff, and in June was awarded a Companion of the Order of the Bath. [LondonGazette|issue=44601|date=8 June 1968|startpage=6333|supp=yes|accessdaymonth=28 August|accessyear=2008] The following year, Smith was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. [LondonGazette|issue=44864|date=14 June 1969|startpage=5996|supp=yes|accessdaymonth=28 August|accessyear=2008]

In November 1970, Smith was appointed Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and promoted to the rank of Admiral; becoming the first Australian to achieve that rank. In mid 1975, he was awarded the newly established Companion of the Order of Australia, [cite web|url=http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=879360&search_type=quick&showInd=true|title=Companion of the Order of Australia: SMITH, Victor (Alfred Trumper)|accessdaymonth=28 August|accessyear=2008|work=It's an Honour|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia] before retireing in November; just short of forty-nine years naval service.

Later life

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. Smith passed away in August 1998, at the age of 85.

References

External links

* [http://www.defence.gov.au/cdf/past_chiefs.htm Defence Force] - Previous Chiefs
* [http://www.vietnamroll.gov.au/VeteranDetails.aspx?VeteranId=1263388 Vietnam War Nominal Roll]