DEATH OF A HERO

CRAIG WINTER

REAL leaders never stop leading.

On August 18, 1966, (then) Major Harry Arthur Smith led D Company, 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) on a search and destroy mission in Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam.

“During the patrol, the leading platoon contacted what appeared to be a small Viet Cong patrol in thick rubber.

“The enemy soon proved to be the vanguard of a regimental size force, and the platoon engagement soon turned into a company battle.”

That do-or-die skirmish is now known as the Battle of Long Tan, the anniversary of which is now recognised in Australia as Vietnam Vets Day.

“Despite the intense and accurate enemy fire, Major

Smith formed the remainder of his company into a small defensive perimeter…whilst halting numerous attacks from both flanks on his own position,” said a report in the London Gazette of January 6, 1967.

The Company withstood relentless mortar and rifle fire for several hours.

“Throughout the action, he directed the fire of his company…with such effectiveness that the enemy finally disengaged and withdrew, leaving behind over two hundred dead.”

Just seventeen Australians were killed in the battle and twenty three wounded.

“During the whole of the engagement, he had complete control of the situation.

“He exercised his command with calmness, determination and confidence, and demonstrated professional competence, leadership and inspiration to an exceptional degree.

“There is no doubt that his leadership and disregard for his own safety inspired his soldiers to a performance of duty to a high order.

“His display of command, leadership and professionalism is an inspiration to all.”

After Vietnam, Harry had several attachments from 1 Commando to SAS Regiments in Perth and also with US and British Special Force units.

He commanded 1 Commando Company, 1st Commando Regiment at Georges Heights and was later posted as the inaugural Commanding Officer / Chief Instructor of the Australian Army’s new Parachute Training School which he established, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

For the forty years following Long Tan, Harry Smith “harassed, cajoled, debated, fought and persuaded politicians, the Australian Defence Force and the media… in support of formal reviews and inquiries to have his men recognised for the gallantry they displayed that day.

He fronted multiple government inquiries into the medals awarded for that battle and he was successful in seeing individual medals upgraded to their original citations for some of his soldiers and appropriate awards given to men in other units.

Harry never relented in seeking recognition for his men.

He was eventually awarded the Star of Gallantry, which he refused to travel to Canberra to accept and it wasn’t until the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum director John Meyers arranged a ceremony in 2011 that he finally came into possession of it.

Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith was just one of the notable speakers at that event.

Long-time Fraser Coast resident Lieutenant Colonel Harry Smith SG MC (ret) passed away peacefully at his home on August 20, just two days after Vietnam Veteran’s Day.