Australia ll under attack during the Battle of the Coral Sea

by Commodore Dacre Henry Deudraeth Smyth AO

Setting:

WW II (1939-1945)

The painting shows Australia (ll), in camouflage colours, being attacked by a Japanese aircraft during the Battle of the Coral Sea

About Commodore Dacre Henry Deudraeth Smyth AO
Dacre Smyth was born in London the son of Victoria Cross recipient Sir Nevill Maskelyne Smyth (1868-1941). The Smyth's emigrated to Australia in 1925, settling near Balmoral in Victoria. He had an idyllic early life growing up on the family farm; each morning he rode a horse to a tiny, 10-pupil state school. Then it was off to Geelong Grammar as a border.

Smyth enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy in September 1940. His first posting was as Midshipman in HMAS Australia. His war service saw him at the Battle of the Coral Sea, bombarding Sword Beach during the D-Day landings in France, and he was present at the bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945.

Smyth was aboard HMAS Bataan during the Korean War and commanded HMAS Supply during the Vietnam War. He spent a year as Aide-de-Camp to Governor-General William McKell and three years as Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Painting was a keen hobby during his time in the RAN and when he retired in 1978 he became well-known as an author and artist.

More than 2800 of his paintings sold to eager buyers, and he self-published 14 books illustrated with his paintings and verse. His books all had themes, such as The Bridges of the Yarra, The Lighhouses of Victoria, Historic Ships of Australia and the autobiographical Pictures in My Life.

He was awarded the Order of Australia in 1997 and the French Legion of Honour in 2000.

Dacre Smyth died at his home in Toorak on 3 December 2008.

More paintings by Commodore Dacre Henry Deudraeth Smyth AO
About HMAS Australia (II)
HMAS Australia was one of two 10,000 ton County Class Heavy Cruisers ordered by the Australian Government as part of a five year naval development program begun in 1924. She was built to the Kent Class design of County Class cruisers, her Australian sister ship being HMAS Canberra. She was paid off into Reserve on 24 April 1938 and then recommissioned at Sydney on 28 August 1939. HMAS Australia served with distinction in the battles of The Coral Sea, Leyte Gulf and Lingayen Gulf, suffering heavy damage and many casualties on two occasions.