The Polar Medal presentation that never was. 335091 Major (Maj) Neville Robert Smethurst, second ...

The Polar Medal presentation that never was. 335091 Major (Maj) Neville Robert Smethurst, second in command. 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR), had been summoned to meet with the Australian Ambassador to South Vietnam, Mr Harry at his residence in Saigon. Dennis Gibbons travelled from the Army Public Relations office at Nui Dat to Saigon with Maj Smethurst on the afternoon Wallaby flight. "I had been told of the presentation and was asked if I wished to attend the function. I agreed, but was told I must not mention to Maj Smethurst what it was all about, as it was to be a complete surprise". The guests assembled at the residence at 1900 hours (7.00 PM), and Ambassador Harry walked into the anteroom. After all the normal niceties, he began a speech directed towards Maj Smethhurst, and when he got to this statement "We are gathered here tonight to honour Maj. Neville Smethhurst with the presentation of the Polar Medal". There was a sudden, loud outburst of "no we are not!".The whole room turned as one to stare at Maj Smethurst, Ambassador Harry, stopped in his tracks, stared in a glazed fashion at Maj Smethurst and finally asked, "why not?" "Because I am going to have it presented in Australia with my wife and children present" replied Maj Smethurst. With all of this, Ambassador Harry, always the Diplomat, simply raised his glass of champagne and gave the toast to Maj. Smethurst on his award, turned and left the room. The remaining group all settled into a great ‘nosh up’ with plenty of bubbly before leaving to go to their various over night billets in Saigon. Maj Smethurst and Dennis Gibbons travelled back to 1 Australian Task Force (1ATF) base at Nui Dat, both of them still much amused by the previous night’s frivolities.