Victor Smith

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For other people named Victor Smith, see Victor Smith (disambiguation).

Sir Victor Smith
Born(1913-05-03)3 May 1913
Second World War
Mentioned in Despatches
RelationsVictor Trumper (uncle)

CB, DSC (9 May 1913 – 10 July 1998) was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy. Smith's career culminated with his appointment as chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee—forerunner of the role of Australia's Chief of the Defence Force—from 1970 to 1975, following an earlier term as Chief of Naval Staff
from 1968 to 1970.

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.[1]

Early career

After deciding to embark on a naval career, Smith entered the

Royal Australian Naval College as a cadet midshipman in January 1927.[2] 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.[1]

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.[1]

Second World War

In 1940, Smith took part in operations off

Mention in Despatches.[3][4]

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 protection of shipping off the African coast. In April, the squadron joined Ark Royal, where Smith served until the ship was sunk off Gibraltar on 30 November by U-81. During this time, Smith had been shot down twice, each time managing to be picked up by a destroyer.[1] 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".[5][6]

After the sinking of the Ark Royal, Smith returned to Australia where he was appointed as liaison officer to the

Guadalcanal landings on 9 August 1942.[6] 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,[1] an American built escort carrier which was operating in the Battle of the Atlantic and escorting Russian convoys.[6] 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.[1]

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.[6] 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.[1]

Post-war career

The Naval Board now decided to send Smith to the

Admiralty in London, to obtain information that would assist in the planning and formation of a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) 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 FAA was given in July, and Smith was promoted to commander in December.[1] The FAA was officially established on 28 August 1948, and Smith has become widely known as the "Father of the Fleet Air Arm."[7]

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.[8] During this time, the Fleet Air Arm was conducting operations over Korea from Sydney; the first time it was in action.[1] 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 promoted to captain in the New Year.[1]

In June 1955, he was appointed Captain of the 1st Frigate Squadron in command of

Imperial Defence College, London.[1]

After a year in London, Smith returned to Australia to take command of the carrier

Commander of the Order of the British Empire.[9]

Smith's next appointment was as Fourth Naval Member, which lasted twelve months. In February 1966, he was appointed as

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.[11]

In November 1970,

Companion of the Order of Australia,[12]
before retiring 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,[1] and as patron of the ACT Rugby League. Smith died on 10 July 1998, at the age of 85.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Albert Birch (March 1979). "Admiral Sir Victor Smith, AC, KBE, CB, DSC". Naval Historical Review. Naval Historical Society of Australia. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
  2. ^ "SMITH, VICTOR ALFRED". World War II Nominal Roll. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
  3. ^ "No. 34979". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 October 1940. p. 6228.
  4. ^ "Recommendation for Victor Alfred Smith to be awarded a Mention in Despatches" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  5. ^ "Recommendation for Victor Alfred Smith to be awarded a Distinguished Service Cross" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "DEATH OF ADMIRAL SIR VICTOR SMITH, AC, KBE, CB, DSC". Legislative Assembly for the ACT. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2008.
  7. ^ "Fleet Air Arm Museum Display – Beginnings (1917–1947)". Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
  8. ^ "SMITH, VICTOR ALFRED". Korean War Nominal Roll. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  9. ^ "No. 43011". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 1963. p. 4827.
  10. ^ "No. 44601". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 1968. p. 6333.
  11. ^ "No. 44864". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 1969. p. 5996.
  12. ^ "Companion of the Order of Australia: SMITH, Victor (Alfred Trumper)". It's an Honour. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 28 August 2008.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee
1970–1975 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Vice Admiral Sir Alan McNicoll
 Chief of Naval Staff
1968–1970 		Succeeded by
Vice Admiral Sir Richard Peek
Preceded by
Rear Admiral Richard Peek
Deputy Chief of Naval Staff

1967–1968 		Succeeded by
Rear Admiral David Stevenson
Preceded by
Rear Admiral Thomas Morrison
Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet

1966–1967 		Succeeded by
Rear Admiral Richard Peek
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