Nevill Maskelyne Smyth
Encyclopedia
Major General Sir Nevill Maskelyne Smyth, VC
, KCB (14 August 1868 – 21 July 1941) was an English
recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
, a noted geologist, his grandfather was Admiral WH Smyth
. His father's sister Henrietta Grace Powell was Robert Baden-Powell's mother making Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scout Movement
, Smyth's first cousin.
Smyth was educated at Westminster School
and graduated from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in 1888. He was posted to the Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) in India as a second lieutenant
on 22 August 1888. In 1890 he was attached to the Royal Engineers
to assist with a railway survey during the Zhob Valley expedition.
on 26 April. For his services in the initial stages of the Mahdist War
he was Mentioned in Despatches on 3 November 1896, and awarded the Order of the Medjidieh, Fourth Class in 1897.
On 8 December 1897 Smyth was promoted captain
. On the 2 September the campaign culminated in the Battle of Omdurman
. Near to the end of the battle, a dervish
tried to spear two war correspondent
s; Smyth galloped forward and, though severely speared through the arm, shot the man dead. This action saw him awarded the Victoria Cross. The citation was gazetted
on 15 November 1898, and read:
Smyth was also Mentioned in Despatches. He was awarded the Order of Osmanieh, Fourth Class in 1900.
Smyth rejoined the Queens Bays for active service in South Africa
in the Second Boer War
. He was awarded a brevet
majority on 31 October 1902 for his South African service.
Smyth was promoted to substantive major on 27 October 1903 when he transferred to the Carabiniers (6th Dragoon Guards), who were then in India and returned to South Africa in 1908. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 1 May 1909, and became commanding officer
of the Carabiniers. The regiment returned to England in 1912. According to the London Gazette
, he completed the standard four year period as a regimental commander on 1 May 1909, and was placed on half-pay. However the same issue, carried notice of his promotion to colonel backdated to 4 December 1912. He was seconded to the Egyptian Army, and in 1913-14 he was commandant of the Khartoum district where he was active in combating the slave-trade.
at the Battle of Lone Pine
and was one of the last officers to leave the peninsula, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) on 1 January 1916, and received a further Mention in Despatches on 28 January 1916. Smyth led the brigade in France in 1916, and on 28 December was given command of the 2nd Australian Division as a temporary major general. He was Mentioned in Despatches twice more, on 15 May 1917 and 11 December 1917, and was promoted substantive major general on 1 January 1918 as a "reward for distinguished service in the field." He was transferred back to the British Army in May 1918 and briefly commanded the 58th (2/1st London) Division and then the 59th (2nd North Midland) Division, leading the latter during the liberation of Lille in October 1918. He had learned to fly in 1913 and was known for borrowing aircraft to look at the lines for himself. He was yet again Mentioned in Despatches on 20 December 1918.
He was promoted Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 1919 King's Birthday Honours. On 30 July 1919 was appointed General Officer Commanding
47th (1/2nd London) Division (Territorial Force
). During the war he had also been awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre
, and the French Légion d'honneur
in the grade of Officer. In all, he was Mentioned in Despatches eleven times during his career. He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 3rd Dragoon Guards
on 1 October 1920. He relinquished command of his division on 30 July 1923. Smyth retired from the British Army on 5 July 1924, and relinquished his Honorary Colonelcy on 16 October 1925.
, Victoria
in 1925 with his wife and three children. He took to politics in the National Party of Australia
and stood unsuccessfully for a Victorian seat in the Australian Senate
. He died at home in 1941 and was buried in Balmoral Cemetery.
One of his sons, Dacre Smyth
, followed a military career in the Royal Australian Navy
rising to commodore
.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, KCB (14 August 1868 – 21 July 1941) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Early life
Born the son of Sir Warington Wilkinson SmythWarington Wilkinson Smyth
Sir Warington Wilkinson Smyth was a British geologist.-Biography:Smyth was born at Naples, the son of Admiral W. H. Smyth and his wife Annarella Warington. His father was engaged in the Admiralty Survey of the Mediterranean at the time of his birth. Smyth was educated at Westminster and...
, a noted geologist, his grandfather was Admiral WH Smyth
William Henry Smyth
William Henry Smyth was an English sailor, hydrographer, astronomer and numismatist.-Private Life:...
. His father's sister Henrietta Grace Powell was Robert Baden-Powell's mother making Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scout Movement
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
, Smyth's first cousin.
Smyth was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
and graduated from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in 1888. He was posted to the Queen's Bays (2nd Dragoon Guards) in India as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on 22 August 1888. In 1890 he was attached to the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
to assist with a railway survey during the Zhob Valley expedition.
Sudan
1896 saw him stationed in Cairo with his regiment, and he was promoted lieutenantFirst Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
on 26 April. For his services in the initial stages of the Mahdist War
Mahdist War
The Mahdist War was a colonial war of the late 19th century. It was fought between the Mahdist Sudanese and the Egyptian and later British forces. It has also been called the Anglo-Sudan War or the Sudanese Mahdist Revolt. The British have called their part in the conflict the Sudan Campaign...
he was Mentioned in Despatches on 3 November 1896, and awarded the Order of the Medjidieh, Fourth Class in 1897.
On 8 December 1897 Smyth was promoted captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
. On the 2 September the campaign culminated in the Battle of Omdurman
Battle of Omdurman
At the Battle of Omdurman , an army commanded by the British Gen. Sir Herbert Kitchener defeated the army of Abdullah al-Taashi, the successor to the self-proclaimed Mahdi Muhammad Ahmad...
. Near to the end of the battle, a dervish
Dervish
A Dervish or Darvesh is someone treading a Sufi Muslim ascetic path or "Tariqah", known for their extreme poverty and austerity, similar to mendicant friars in Christianity or Hindu/Buddhist/Jain sadhus.-Etymology:The Persian word darvīsh is of ancient origin and descends from a Proto-Iranian...
tried to spear two war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
s; Smyth galloped forward and, though severely speared through the arm, shot the man dead. This action saw him awarded the Victoria Cross. The citation was gazetted
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
on 15 November 1898, and read:
Smyth was also Mentioned in Despatches. He was awarded the Order of Osmanieh, Fourth Class in 1900.
Smyth rejoined the Queens Bays for active service in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. He was awarded a brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
majority on 31 October 1902 for his South African service.
Smyth was promoted to substantive major on 27 October 1903 when he transferred to the Carabiniers (6th Dragoon Guards), who were then in India and returned to South Africa in 1908. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 1 May 1909, and became commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of the Carabiniers. The regiment returned to England in 1912. According to the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
, he completed the standard four year period as a regimental commander on 1 May 1909, and was placed on half-pay. However the same issue, carried notice of his promotion to colonel backdated to 4 December 1912. He was seconded to the Egyptian Army, and in 1913-14 he was commandant of the Khartoum district where he was active in combating the slave-trade.
World War I
Smyth was dispatched to Gallipoli by Lord Kitchener arriving in May 1915. He commanded the 1st Australian Infantry Brigade as a temporary brigadier-generalBrigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
at the Battle of Lone Pine
Battle of Lone Pine
The Battle of Lone Pine was a battle between Australian and Turkish forces that took place during the Gallipoli campaign from 6–10 August 1915. It was part of a diversion to draw attention from the main assaults of 6 August against the Sari Bair peaks of Chunuk Bair and Hill 971, which became...
and was one of the last officers to leave the peninsula, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) on 1 January 1916, and received a further Mention in Despatches on 28 January 1916. Smyth led the brigade in France in 1916, and on 28 December was given command of the 2nd Australian Division as a temporary major general. He was Mentioned in Despatches twice more, on 15 May 1917 and 11 December 1917, and was promoted substantive major general on 1 January 1918 as a "reward for distinguished service in the field." He was transferred back to the British Army in May 1918 and briefly commanded the 58th (2/1st London) Division and then the 59th (2nd North Midland) Division, leading the latter during the liberation of Lille in October 1918. He had learned to fly in 1913 and was known for borrowing aircraft to look at the lines for himself. He was yet again Mentioned in Despatches on 20 December 1918.
He was promoted Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 1919 King's Birthday Honours. On 30 July 1919 was appointed General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
47th (1/2nd London) Division (Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
). During the war he had also been awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
, and the French Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
in the grade of Officer. In all, he was Mentioned in Despatches eleven times during his career. He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 3rd Dragoon Guards
3rd Dragoon Guards
The 3rd Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1685. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the 3rd/6th Dragoon Guards in 1922....
on 1 October 1920. He relinquished command of his division on 30 July 1923. Smyth retired from the British Army on 5 July 1924, and relinquished his Honorary Colonelcy on 16 October 1925.
Australia
After his retirement he emigrated to Australia and farm in BalmoralBalmoral, Victoria
Balmoral is a township in the Shire of Southern Grampians in the Western District of Victoria, Australia. At the 2006 census, Balmoral and the surrounding area had a population of 542....
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in 1925 with his wife and three children. He took to politics in the National Party of Australia
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
and stood unsuccessfully for a Victorian seat in the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
. He died at home in 1941 and was buried in Balmoral Cemetery.
One of his sons, Dacre Smyth
Dacre Smyth
Dacre Henry Deudraeth Smyth AO [1923-2008] was an Australian artist and naval officer who participated in the D-Day landings and the Battle of the Coral Sea. He joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1940, retiring as a commodore in 1978....
, followed a military career in the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
rising to commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
.