Lieutenant Colonel George Frederick Smith

Service number	VX185
Birth Date	1905-04-20
Birth Place	Australia: Victoria, Nhill
Death Date	1995-01-23
Final Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Service	Australian Army
Unit	24th Australian Infantry Brigade
Place	Nhill
Conflict/Operation	Second World War, 1939-1945
Gazettes	Published in London Gazette in 1944-04-27 Published in London Gazette in 1945-03-08 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1944-04-27 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1945-03-15

Collection items

Rolls

Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945
Honours and Awards:

Unit

24th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945

Rank

Lieutenant Colonel

London Gazette

27 April 1944 on page 1927 at position 3

Commonwealth Gazette

27 April 1944 on page 893 at position 38
Honours and Awards:

Unit

24th Australian Infantry Brigade

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945

Rank

Lieutenant Colonel

London Gazette

08 March 1945 on page 1305 at position 43

Commonwealth Gazette

15 March 1945 on page 650 at position 98
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945

Timeline

Date of birth	20 April 1905	Nhill VIC
Date of birth	20 April 1905
Date commissioned	05 September 1930
Interwar Service 1	05 September 1930	lieutenant 23/21 battalion
Interwar Service 2	13 July 1936	captain
Interwar Service 3	06 March 1939	brigade machine gun officer 6 Brigade
Career summary 1	13 October 1939	seconded as captain to 2/6th battalion from 6th Brigade
Career summary 3	13 October 1939	major 2/6th battalion 4 Jan 1940 (bd
Career summary 2	06 November 1939	enlisted 2AIF
Career summary 4	18 May 1940	arrived Middle East
Career summary 5	1940-07-22 - 1940-08-26	Middle East Tactical School (senior O
Career summary 6	24 November 1940	Hygine Cse 16
Career summary 9	1941-09-24 - 1941-10-01	AIFMiddle East School Military
Career summary 10	1941-11-18 - 1943-03-08	seconded commanding officer 17 Australian infantry training battalion
Career summary 11	23 May 1942	Returned to Australia (4MD)
Career summary 12	08 March 1943	returned to unit 2/6th battalion
Career summary 13	30 March 1943	arrived Moresby
Career summary 16	09 July 1943	lieutenant colonel 6 Mar 44 (bd
Appointment	1943-07-09 - 1944-10-20	Battalion: 24th; Rank on appointment: major, temporary lieutenant colonel ; Appointed from: 2/6th battalion (formerly secd commanding officer 17 Australian infantry training battalion ); Reason for end of appointment: deemed medically unfit for duty: knee injury
Career summary 14	1943-07-09 - 1944-10-20	temporary lieutenantCOL, commanding officer 24 battalion
Citations 1	1943-09	For distinguished service during the SALAMAUA LAE campaign Aug-
Career summary 17	12 April 1944	arrived Moresby
Career summary 18	10 August 1944	Returned to Australia (T'Ville) ex Madang
Career summary 20	03 November 1944	appointed commanding officer 2 AIF Reception Camp United Kingdom
Career summary 21	22 December 1944	arrived United Kingdom
Career summary 22	13 February 1945	REC'D Companion of the Distinguished Service Order at Buckingham Palace
Career summary 23	12 March 1945	appointed commanding officer 1 AIF Reception Camp United Kingdom
Career summary 24	08 August 1945	Returned to Australia (Sydney)
Career summary 25	15 December 1945	Reserve of Officers
Date of death	23 January 1995
Date of death	23 January 1995
Career summary 7	c 1941-04-10	arrived Greece
Career summary 8	c 1941-05-30	arrived Middle East from Greece
Career summary 15		Land Headquarters Tactical School (senior Offr) Feb-Mar 44 (inc Returned to Australia 19 Feb)
Career summary 19		relinquished command 24th battalion 20 Oct 44 (as a result of knee injury according to obit although no record of injury in record of service)
Citations 2		Lt-Col SMITH CO 24 Aust Inf Bn, was appointed to commannd WAMPIT FORCE consisting of that Bn (less D Coy) and attached troops, such force being directly under command of NEW GUINEA FORCE, and subsequenlty I AUST CORPS with the main role of preventing enemy penetration into the WAU BULOLO valley from northerly and easterly directions.
Citations 3		On 26 Aug, 43, WAMPIT FORCE was given furtherr tasks of containing approx 150 enemy in the the MARKHAM PT area and preventing any enemy withdrawing from SALAMAUA from joining up with the enemy at MARKHAM PT so that the successful landing of our paratroops at NADZAB would not be prejudiced by the arrival of additional enemy troops in that area.
Citations 4		By the splendid organisational ability of Lt-Col SMITH and the manner in which he disposed his forces this mission was highly successful and greatly facilitated the movement of our forces from NADZAB to LAE.
Citations 5		Throughout the operation it was evident that WAMPIT FORCE by the successful results being obtained, was being directed by a leader of exceptional ability.
Citations 6		His aggressive spirit and drive undoubtedly inspired the troops under his command throughout the whole operation, and gave the enemy no chance of wresting the initiative from our troops. The clear presentation of the sitauation and the information gained by his OPs and offensive patrols was of considerable assistance to 7 and 9 Aust Divs in the execution of their tasks.'
Citations 7		-D.N.16/44
Citations 8		CAG 81/44
WW2 Service 2		Bardia-Benghazi
WW2 Service 3		New Guinea