Harry George Smart
Harry George Smart | |
|---|---|
Second World War
| |
| Awards | Mentioned in Despatches (Greece)Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix |
Harry George Smart, Second World War.
Biography
In 1891, Harry George "Reggie" Smart[1] was born in Newmarket, Suffolk, in the United Kingdom. Smart attended Framlingham College between 1905 and 1907[2] and joined the British Army sometime thereafter. He served as a Sapper with the Royal Engineers.[3]
On 30 November 1915, Smart received a commission with the
Bristol F2B fighters.[3]
Interwar period
On 4 Feb 1923,
Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) at the Central Flying School (CFS).[4] The Commandant of the CFS at that time was Group Captain Felton Holt. On 12 Nov 1927, Smart was seconded to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).[3] On 5 February 1930, his service with the RAAF ended. By 19 February, he was the Officer Commanding No. 99 Squadron.[4]
In 1935,
Wing Commander Smart was named Commandant of the Central Flying School.[4] He was soon tasked with supervising the relocation of the school from RAF Wittering back to the original RAF Upavon location. Two weeks after completing the move, Smart was sent to the United States to study American instructional methods.[3]
On 18 Jan 1937,
Group Captain Smart took command of the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at RAF Martlesham Heath[4] where he soon made his opinion of contractors known: "Our job is to test aircraft, not to tell the constructors how to design them." This sentence was from a speech made by Smart during the "Sixteenth Annual Contractors' Dinner." His speech was greeted with applause. The significance of the remark, and the sly dig contained therein, was not lost on any one of those present.[5]
In 1939, Smart became the Commander of the British Forces in Iraq.[4]
Second World War
British Ambassador to Iraq, Kinahan Cornwallis who was also in contact with London
.
Smart's tactics to defend the
RAF Shaibah, began the attack.[7] What became known as the Anglo-Iraqi War was now under way. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill hoped that Smart would be able to hold out at Habbaniya until Habforce could advance from Palestine and relieve him on 12 May. However, in a matter of days, the Iraqi forces were suffering heavy losses. Late on 6 May, the Iraqis abandoned the plateau and left much equipment. In the end, the flying column of Habforce, Kingcol
, did not reach Habbaniya until 18 May. On 25 May, the main body of Habforce arrived.
On 5 May, AVM Smart was injured in a car accident during the night-time blackoutGreece, took command of the aerial forces.[12]
Also on 7 May, apparently unaware of Smart's injury, Churchill sent the following message to Smart: "Your vigorous and splendid action has largely restored the situation. We are all watching the grand fight you are making. All possible aid will be sent. Keep it up!".[13]
On 17 November 1941, Smart was named AOC of No. 17 (Operational Training) Group.[4] On 1 September 1945, Smart retired from the RAF.[4]
Honours and awards
- 28 October 1921 – Flight Lieutenant Harry George Smart, RAF is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross For energy, gallantry and leadership. This officer has shown a very fine example to his fellow officers, especially during low bombing raids, when he has frequently descended among heavy rifle fire to very low altitude to ensure accurate bombing of small targets. He has taken part in 25-day bombing raids and two night raids.[14]
- 23 December 1922 – Squadron Leader Harry George Smart, DFC, Royal Air Force is appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire[15]
- 3 June 1927 – Squadron Leader Harry George Smart, OBE, DFC is awarded the Air Force Cross[16]
- 23 September 1941 – Acting Air Vice-Marshal Harry George Smart, OBE, DFC, AFC is appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire[17]
- 29 December 1942 – King of the Hellenes in recognition of valuable service rendered in connection with the war.[18]
- 1943 – Acting Abdul Illah Regent of Iraq in recognition of assisting his escape from rebel forces during the Anglo-Iraqi War of May 1941.[19]
Notes
- ^ a b c Lyman, p. 19
- ^ "Distinguished Old Framlinghamians (Services)". The Society of Old Framlinghamians. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
- ^ a b c d Air of Authority, Biographies, Air Vice-Marshal H G Smart
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation – Air Vice-Marshal H G Smart
- ^ Flight, p. 576
- ^ Jackson, p. 151
- ^ a b Playfair, p. 183
- ^ Mackenzie, p. 95
- ^ Smart, p. 146 (author is his daughter.)
- ^ Smart, p. 153 (author is his daughter.)
- ^ Smart, p. 132 (author is his daughter.)
- ^ Playfair, p. 188
- ^ Churchill, Chapter 14, The Revolt in Iraq, p. 230
- ^ "No. 32501". The London Gazette. 28 October 1921. p. 8496.
- ^ "No. 32782". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1923. p. 8.
- ^ "No. 33280". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 June 1927. p. 3620.
- ^ in recognition of distinguished services rendered in operational commands of the Royal Air Force during the period 1 October 1940 to 31 March 1941."No. 35284". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 September 1941. p. 5567.
- ^ "No. 35837". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1942. p. 5639.
- ^ Smart, p. 185 (author is his daughter.)
References
- ISBN 0-395-41057-6.
- Jackson, Ashley (2006). The British Empire and the Second World War. Hambledon Continuum. ISBN 1-85285-417-0.
- Lyman, Robert (2006). Iraq 1941: The Battles for Basra, Habbaniya, Fallujah and Baghdad. Campaign. Oxford, New York: Osprey Publishing. p. 96. ISBN 1-84176-991-6.
- OCLC 59637091.
- Playfair, Major-General I.S.O.; with Flynn R.N., Captain F.C.; Molony, Brigadier C.J.C. & Toomer, Air Vice-Marshal S.E. (2004) [1st. pub. HMSO 1956]. Butler, J.R.M (ed.). The Mediterranean and Middle East, Volume II The Germans come to the help of their Ally (1941). History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Naval & Military Press. ISBN 1-84574-066-1.
- Smart, Naida (2012). Forgotten Victory: Iraq 1939 – 1941. Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, England: Bound Biographies.
External links
- Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation: Air Vice-Marshal Harry George Smart
- Flight, Martlesham Merriment: The Sixteenth "Contactors' Dinner" a Great Success" (dated 9 December 1937)
- The London Gazette, 7 June 1916 – Appointed flying officer (Temporary Second Lieutenant) in Royal Flying Corps (effective 29 April 1916)
- The London Gazette, 23 August 1917 – Appointed flying officer (Temporary Captain) in Royal Flying Corps (effective 23 July 1917)
- The London Gazette, 1 August 1919 – Commissioned into RAF
- The London Gazette, 30 June 1922 – Squadron Leader (effective 30 June 1922)
- The London Gazette, 15 November 1927 – Seconded to Australian Air Force (effective 12 November 1927)
- The London Gazette, 2 July 1929 – Wing Commander
- The London Gazette, 11 February 1930 – Ceases to be seconded for duty to the Royal Australian Air Force (effective 5 February 1930)
- The London Gazette, 2 July 1935 – Group Captain
- The London Gazette, 4 April 1939 – Air Commodore (effective 1 April 1939)
- The London Gazette, 19 December 1939 – Air Vice-Marshal (unpaid) (effective 23 November 1939)
- The London Gazette, 28 May 1940 – From Acting Air Vice-Marshal (unpaid) to Acting Air Vice-Marshal (paid) (effective 1 March 1940)
- The London Gazette, 27 June 1941 – Relinquished Acting Air Vice-Marshal (effective 17 May 1941)
- The London Gazette, 6 April 1943 – To be acting Air Vice-Marshal (effective 6 March 1943)
- The London Gazette, Friday, 11 January 1946 – Retirement notification
- The London Gazette, Friday, 15 March 1946 – Amendment to effective date of retirement notification
- "Royal Air Force History: The Battle for Habbaniya – The Forgotten War". Retrieved 30 January 2010.