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| Sergeant Quentin George Murray Smythe Born: August6, 1916 at Nottingham Road, Natal, South Africa Highest Award: Victoria Cross | No Wartime Photo Collected To Date (Reader Assistance would be appreciated) |
Smythe was the grandson of the last Prime Minister of Natal, he attended Estcourt High School then studied at a farm training school. As a member of the Royal Natal Carabineers he fought in Abyssinia and North Africa, where he became a sergeant. He was a 25 year old Sergeant on June 5, 1942 when an attack was launched on the Italian positions at Alem Hamza. His senior officer Lieutenant Douglas was hit in the arm and Smythe took command. Although blinded by blood from a cut on his forehead he attacked enemy positions with hand grenades and rifle and bayonet. When our troops came under enfilade fire from an enemy machine-gun nest he attacked it with hand grenades, capturing the crew. Although weak from loss of blood, he continued to lead the advance and stalking an anti-tank position, he again attacked and captured it single-handedly killing several of the enemy. He consolidated their position, then averted encirclement and allowed his troop to withdraw to safety.
His VC award was gazetted on 11 September 1942 and presented to him by General Dan Pienaar.
London Gazette, 11 September 1942:
Alem Hamza, Libya, 5 June 1942, Sergeant Quentin George Murray Smythe, Royal Natal Carabineers, South African Forces. Although handicapped by a wound in his forehead, causing much loss of blood, Smythe managed single handedly to obliterate a machine gun post, taking all the surviving crew prisoner. Then, again single-handedly and armed only with rifle and bayonet, he promptly did the same with an enemy anti-tank gun crew, after which he consolidated the position. However, because of the deterioration of the situation elsewhere, Smythe found himself ordered to withdraw. In spite of a vigorous attempt by the enemy to cut him off, he managed to lead his men back to their lines. It was for this action Captain Smythe was awarded the Victoria Cross.
After El Alamein the carabaneers returned to South Africa early in January 1943. Smythe was commissioned and hospitalized shortly afterwards with a burst appendix.
Smythe was married three times having four children with three sons and a daughter. He returned to farming and became a stock inspector after the war. Smythe was an excellent marksman, an animal love, and a passionate conservationist. Smythe attended the VC reunions in 1956 and 1968. He rejoined the SADF in 1970 and became a captain in charge of training at Kimberley and later the Cape Corps. He subsequently retired to Amanzimtoti and passed away in 1997. Smythe's VC was auctioned in 1998 and the current location is of interest.
(Compiled by AANA Members MechInf & Nacht)
Bibliography
The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
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