HMAS Supply replenishing escorts 1968
A verse by the Artist to accompany this painting
The biggest and best in our Navy,
(The Admiral upheld our belief).
This swansong provided the gravy
To sea-days of salt pork and beef.
- 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.
- About HMAS Supply (ll)
Commissioned on 10 April 2021, HMAS Supply (II) is the lead of two Supply class auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) ships built for the Royal Australian Navy by Spanish shipbuilder, Navantia.
HMAS Supply is the second Royal Australian Navy ship to bear the name after the Tide Class fleet tanker, HMAS Supply (I).
The AOR is a class of double-hulled ship. The Australian ships are based on the Spanish Navy’s Cantabria Class AORs. AORs carry fuel, dry cargo, water, food, ammunition, equipment and spare parts to provide operational support for deployed naval or combat forces operating far from port for longer periods.
In addition to replenishment, the vessels provide logistics support for the armed forces, combat against environmental pollution at sea, and support humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
More reading
- Additional resources for Commodore Dacre Henry Deudraeth Smyth AO
- Additional resources for HMAS Supply (ll)
