| Accession Number | P05969.009 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Digital print |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | c 1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Portrait of 3261 Sergeant (Sgt) Restyn Smellie, 1st Field Artillery Brigade. Sgt Smellie ...
Description
Portrait of 3261 Sergeant (Sgt) Restyn Smellie, 1st Field Artillery Brigade. Sgt Smellie enlisted on the 28 October 1914 and served at both Gallipoli and the Western Front. He received the appreciation of the Army Corps Commander for gallantry in the field following an incident on 7 November 1916 when it is stated that he, "with a number of others, was engaged in denotating mills hand grenades. Noticing on removing a grenade from a box a pin was missing, he promptly warned the party and holding the bomb sufficiently long enough for everyone to get clear he threw the grenade into a ditch where it exploded harmlessly. His presence of mind no doubt averted a serious incident." Sgt Smellie returned to Australia in December 1918. At the age of 52, he re-enlisted soon after the bombing of Darwin in 1942. He served with the 17th Battalion, Voluntary Aid Detachment on full time duty for the duration of 1943, and was discharged at the end of the Second World War (see P05969.010).