SMITH, Arthur Henson
| Service Numbers: | 1539, VX13994 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 August 1914, Broadmeadows |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/9th Field Regiment |
| Born: | Castlemaine, Victoria. Australia, 9 December 1890 |
| Home Town: | Malvern East, Stonnington, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Camberwell Grammar School, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Natural causes, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 19 January 1973, aged 82 years |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne Cremated |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 1539, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade , Broadmeadows | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Sep 1914: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 26 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 1539, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade , ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 2 Aug 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 12 Sep 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Battery Sergeant Major, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 12 Mar 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 21st Field Artillery (Howitzer) Brigade | |
| 13 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 13 Jun 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 1 Oct 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 25 Dec 1918: | Embarked AIF WW1, Captain, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade , HT Takada for return to Australia - arriving 11 February 1919 (1914 leave) | |
| 27 May 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Captain, Special Services AIF, SS Willochra, Sydney - Disembarked London on 21 July 1919 | |
| 23 Sep 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Captain, Special Services AIF, HT Ascanius, Liverpool for return to Australia as POW escort - arriving 10 November 1919 | |
| 21 Nov 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, Special Services AIF |
World War 2 Service
| 2 May 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant Colonel, VX13994 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May 1940: | Enlisted VX13994, 2nd/9th Field Regiment, Caulfield | |
| 2 May 1945: | Discharged VX13994, 2nd/9th Field Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel |
World War 1 Service
| Date unknown: | Embarked Corporal, 1539, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Southern | |
|---|---|---|
| Date unknown: | Involvement Corporal, 1539, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: '' embarkation_ship: HMAT Southern embarkation_ship_number: A27 public_note: '' |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
Sydney vs Emden 100, October 28, 2014
"The fact that the #Emden was, at last, brought to earth and that, by an Australian cruiser, caused great joy aboard the Southern and free beer was the order of the day."
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Rowan Smith, a FB friend, has shared his Grandfather's diary. Arthur Henson Smith (1890-1973) was in the First AIF convoy aboard the Transport A27 "Southern". He went on to serve with distinction at Gallipoli and in France.
His personal recollection of the Sydney-Emden clash contained in his diary entry for 9 Nov 1914 records.
"Last night, the Pera received a wireless “SOS” message. This distress signal was sent on to the Minotaur, who dispatched the Sydney to investigate.
The signal had come from Cocos Island, where the wireless operators were surprised by the German ship, the Emden. One of the operators managed to send out the SOS signal before being overpowered by the Germans.
When the Sydney arrived, the Emden made a bolt at 10 o’clock this morning. The Minotaur, at the head of our fleet, sighted the Emden running from the Sydney, straight in our direction.
Minotaur headed the Emden off and this enabled the Sydney to close the range and blow away the Emden’s three funnels and one mast.
To avoid sinking, the Emden ran herself aground on Cocos Island.
The Sydney, seeing she was helpless, went after a collier that was with the Emden. They took her crew off, then sank her.
Sydney then came back and took off the crew of the Emden, putting them aboard the Empress of Asia, to be taken to Colombo.
Casualties on the Sydney: two killed and thirteen wounded, losses on the Emden, very heavy.
The fact that the Emden was, at last, brought to earth and that, by an Australian cruiser, caused great joy aboard the Southern and free beer was the order of the day. The Sydney then went to look for the Konigsberg, which is believed to be in the vicinity.
In the evening, we had a patriotic concert in honour of the event."
Click images to start slideshow.