25 Facts About Nevill Smyth

Nevill Smyth was educated at Westminster School and graduated from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in 1888.

Nevill Smyth was posted to the Queen's Bays in India as a second lieutenant on 22 August 1888.

Near to the end of the battle, a dervish tried to spear two war correspondents; Nevill Smyth galloped forward and, though severely speared through the arm, shot the man dead.

At the Battle of Khartum on 2 September 1898, Captain Nevill Smyth galloped forward and attacked an arab who had run amok among some camp followers.

Captain Nevill Smyth received the Arab's charge, and killed him, being wounded with a spear in the arm whilst in so doing.

Nevill Smyth thus saved the life of at least one of the Camp Followers.

Nevill Smyth was Mentioned in Despatches, and was awarded the Order of Osmanieh, Fourth Class in 1900.

Nevill Smyth rejoined the Queens Bays for active service in South Africa in the Second Boer War.

Nevill Smyth was awarded a brevet majority on 22 August 1902 for his South African service.

Nevill Smyth was promoted to substantive major on 27 October 1903 when he transferred to the Carabiniers, who were then in India and returned to South Africa in 1908.

Nevill Smyth was promoted lieutenant colonel on 1 May 1909, and became commanding officer of the Carabiniers.

Nevill Smyth was dispatched to Gallipoli by Lord Kitchener, arriving there in May 1915.

Nevill Smyth led the brigade during the Gallipoli campaign at the Battle of Lone Pine and was one of the last officers to leave the peninsula during the evacuation from Gallipoli in late 1915.

Nevill Smyth was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 1 January 1916, and received a further mention in dispatches on 28 January 1916.

Nevill Smyth led the brigade in action on the Western Front later in 1916, and on 28 December was given command of the 2nd Australian Division, for which he was made a temporary major general.

Nevill Smyth had learned to fly in 1913 and was known for borrowing aircraft to look at the lines for himself.

Nevill Smyth was yet again mentioned in dispatches on 20 December 1918.

Nevill Smyth was promoted Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1919 King's Birthday Honours.

Nevill Smyth was appointed colonel of the 3rd Dragoon Guards on 1 October 1920.

Nevill Smyth relinquished command of his division on 30 July 1923.

Nevill Smyth retired from the British Army on 5 July 1924, and relinquished the colonelcy of the 3rd Dragoon Guards on 16 October 1925.

In London in July 1918, Nevill Smyth married Evelyn Olwen Williams, daughter of Colonel Sir Osmond Williams, baronet and lord lieutenant of Merionethshire.

Nevill Smyth took to politics in the Nationalist Party of Australia and stood unsuccessfully for a Victorian casual vacancy in the Australian Senate.

Nevill Smyth died at home in 1941 and was buried in Balmoral Cemetery.

One of his sons, Dacre Nevill Smyth, followed a military career in the Royal Australian Navy rising to commodore.