- Author
- Birch, Albert
- Subjects
- Biographies and personal histories
- Tags
- None noted.
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- March 1979 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
Commander Smith was appointed Executive Officer of HMAS Sydney in January 1950. During the year Sydney returned to Britain to embark the 21st Carrier Air Group with its Sea Fury and Firefly aircraft. A little over a year later the new Fleet Air Arm was in action for the first time in Korea, where Sydney served from September 1951 to January 1952.
In April 1952 Commander Smith was appointed to command the Advance Party at the former RAAF Air Station at Schofields. When Schofields was commissioned as HMAS Nirimba in April 1953, Smith was appointed Chief Staff Officer to the Captain (Air) Australia. He left in July to become Director of Air Warfare Organisation and Training at Navy Office, Melbourne and on 31st December was promoted to Captain.
After leaving Navy Office in June 1955 he was appointed Captain (F) of the 1st Frigate Squadron in command of HMAS Quadrant and in April 1956 he became Captain (F) in command of HMAS Queenborough, the appointment lasting until the end of the year. In January 1957 Captain Smith was appointed to command HMAS Albatross, the naval air station at Nowra, NSW. This was the last of many Fleet Air Arm appointments ashore and ended in November 1959.
After a year in London attending the Imperial Defence College, Captain Smith returned to Australia to take command of the carrier HMAS Melbourne in January 1961.
After eighteen months in command of the flagship, Captain Smith was promoted to Acting Rear-Admiral, and served as Second Naval Member at Navy Office until January 1965, being promoted to Rear-Admiral in January 1963. In June of that year he was awarded the CBE.
The next appointment, which lasted for twelve months, was as Fourth Naval Member. After serving at Navy Office Rear- Admiral Smith became Flag Officer Commanding HMA Fleet with his flag in Melbourne in February 1966. Twelve months later he was back at Navy Office as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff and in April 1968 he was appointed Chief of Naval Staff with promotion to Vice-Admiral. In June he received the Companion of the Order of the Bath and in June 1969 he became a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
When the Naval Historical Society of Australia was formed at Garden Island in May 1970 it had to struggle very hard to survive and it was extremely fortunate that Admiral Smith, who was then Chief of Naval Staff, gave the foundation committee support and encouragement at a time when it was badly needed. Sir Victor firmly believed in the Society’s objectives and its activities, and has twice addressed the Society and remains a loyal member and a Vice Patron.
In the normal course of events the career of this remarkable officer would have ended in 1970, but in November of that year Vice- Admiral Sir Victor Smith was appointed to the Department of Defence as Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee. Sir Victor held this appointment longer than anyone else has to date until his retirement in November 1975. So ended a few months short of 49 years service to his country and the unique distinction of being the first graduate of the RAN College to attain the rank of full Admiral. The final accolade came in the Queen’s Birthday Honours of that year – Companion of the Order of Australia.
Sir Victor has not been idle in his retirement. He is the President of the ACT/Queanbeyan Division of Birthright, an Australia-wide organisation which assists single parents with dependent children.