SMYTHE, Vernon Erle
| Service Number: | 1174 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 56th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Jerilderie, New South Wales, Australia, August 1894 |
| Home Town: | Narrandera, Narrandera, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Retirement Village at Killara, New South Wales, Australia, March 1982, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Narrandera WW1 War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1174, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 1174, 3rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1174, 3rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Mar 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 Aug 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 22 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 56th Infantry Battalion | |
| 6 Apr 1916: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 30 May 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 56th Infantry Battalion | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Honoured Military Cross, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), Captain Smythe distinguished himself during operations July 1916 at Fromelles by supervising the digging of a communications under very heavy shell fire | |
| 30 Aug 1918: | Honoured Military Cross and bar, Polygon Wood, Between 26 Sept to 1st Oct 1917 at Polygon Wood. He was always in front of the advance, and displayed skill and leadership of a high order. After the capture of the final objective, he organized the defence and supervised the construction of posts under heavy rifle and machine gun fire. He showed fine soldierly qualities, and inspired confidence by his cheerfulness and disregard of danger. It was chiefly owing to his efforts that a strong counter attack was beaten off. | |
| 2 Apr 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, 1174, 56th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Vernon Erle Smythe's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Prior to the war, he served 2 years in the 43rd and 44th Infantry Battalions in N.S.W. and enlisted with Herbert (Bert) on 20 September 1914. He left Australia on the same date and on the same ship (Euripides) as his brother in the 3rd Btn. and landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. He was Commissioned in the Field to the rank of 2nd Lieut. on 14 May 1915, and was later Mentioned In Despatches for the action at Lone Pine in August 1915. He later transferred to the 4th Btn. on 18 December 1915.
After the evacuation of the Gallipoli peninsula, he was transferred to the 56th Btn. on 19 February 1916, before embarkation to France. He was awarded a Military Cross at the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916 and as a result of his actions at Polygon Wood (Belgium) in 1917 he was recommended for a Distinguished Service Order. However, this was downgraded and as a result he was awarded a Bar to his M.C. Towards the end of the war, he was transferred to Brigade Headquarters and after the conclusion of fighting, he returned to Australia on 8 January 1919. As a veteran of the whole of the Gallipoli campaign, he was given the option of returning home early or remaining in France until he was discharged. Vern chose to return home early.
Military Cross
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 169
Date: 4 October 1917
Bar to Military Cross
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was always in front of the advance, and displayed skill and leadership of a high order. After the capture of the final objective, he organized the defence and supervised the construction of posts under heavy rifle and machine gun fire. He showed fine soldierly qualities, and inspired confidence by his cheerfulness and disregard of danger. It was chiefly owing to his efforts that a strong counter attack was beaten off.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 137
Date: 30 August 1918
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
In March 1982 he and Joyce went for a walk and on his return, Vern sat down in his favourite chair and died quietly. Viola, the only sibling still alive, said "That is the way I would like to go".
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