Lot Essay
Sold with several original wartime communications, among them Admiralty letter of notification for the D.S.C. (dated 27.2.1945) and a letter from Commander R.B.M. Long, O.B.E., R.A.N., the Director of Naval Intelligence at Melbourne (dated 23.11.1945), this latter commending the recipient for his contribution to the Department's wartime work; two Certificates of Discharge; his Commission Warrant for the rank of Sub-Lieutenant, R.A.N.V.R. (dated 10.6.1946); and a more recent letter from fellow Coastwatcher, Bob Emery, M.M.; together with copy correspondence confirming the recipient's application in the late 1960s for a replacement M.M. and Great War campaign issues, the originals having been lost in New Guinea, and to claim his 1939-45 War campaign issues; and the Queen's Korea and U.N. Korea Medals to 208763 Sgt. A.G. Smith.
D.S.C. London Gazette 20.2.1945 'For outstanding courage and skill shown in hazardous reconnaissance operations in the Far East'.
M.M. London Gazette 16.11.1917.
Lieutenant Andrew Kirkwall Smith, D.S.C., M.M., was born in Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands in August 1896 and migrated to Australia in the early 1900s. Just as he was settling into his first job War was declared and against the wishes of his father, and undoubtedly influenced by the news filtering back from Gallipoli, he enlisted into the A.I.F., aged nearly 20 years. Appointed a Private in the 7th Battalion, he landed at Anzac just one day before the decision was made to pull out. Frustrated at this failed attempt to see action, Smith transferred to the 59th and then the 60th Battalion. Embarking for France in June 1916, he afterwards joined the 13th Field Artillery Brigade and saw more than his fair share of action throughout the bloody years of 1917-18, his M.M. for 'conspicuous services and bravery in the field' being gazetted at the end of the former year. Latterly promoted to Sergeant, he took his discharge in August 1919 and purchased a plantation on the Rai Coast in North-East New Guinea. And there he might have remained in relative peace but for the renewed advent of hostilities and the Japanese attacks on Rabaul, New Britain and Madang. Michael Downey takes up the story in his biographical article published in The Sabretache (April-June, 1987):
'As the last flight of enemy bombers disappeared into the twilight a small, battered schooner slipped into Madang Harbour. Bob Emery, then a Sergeant in the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, went down to check the new arrival. "It was the first time I'd met Andy Kirkwall-Smith. He had sailed down from his plantation on the coast to enlist as soon as he had heard the Japs had attacked. Bob Emery was happy to sign up another recruit "even if he was a bit long-in-the-tooth". At that stage Bob was guarding the Madang airfield with a total force consisting of three white soldiers and ten native police! And as Andrew Kirkwall-Smith signed his enlistment papers no doubt his thoughts went back some 26 years to July 1915 when, as a young man of 20, he took the King's shilling for the first time...'
'From February 1942 until August 1943, Kirkwall-Smith served with the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles and "M" Special Unit. He was promoted to Warrant Officer 2nd Class after a number of hair-raising episodes that included the evacuation of refugees from Rabaul and their safe conduct to an inter-island steamer that was bound for Australia.
Throughout these hectic months Bob Emery fought alongside Andy. Bob recalled that they were offered a berth on the steamer back to Australia but both agreed that the boat did not have much chance of getting through. They returned to Madang, stocked up on supplies and went bush. They finally linked up with other Australian troops and Bob transferred to the 5th Independent Company A.I.F. He was later wounded in action and awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.
Eric Feldt, in his book, The Coastwatchers, gives a vivid description of the work done by Andrew Kirkwall-Smith as a member of the Allied Intelligence Bureau. During the latter half of 1942, Kirkwall-Smith was operating behind the lines on the Rai Coast of New Guinea providing information on enemy movements around Buna. Early in 1943 he crossed Vitiaz Strait and landed at Cape Gloucester in New Britain. From his position it was possible to observe any Japanese activity from Rabaul towards the Huon Gulf.
Kirkwall-Smith's party was ambushed by a Japanese barge as they returned in their canoes. He dived overboard and swam ashore, hiding in the jungle until night fell. Unarmed and barefooted, he crept back through the jungle to the base camp where a lone native told him the story of the Japanese attack. Then followed two days of trudging through dense jungle until, exhausted and with his feet cut to ribbons by coral, Kirkwall-Smith linked up with a missionary, V. Neumann, another 'Coastwatcher' who had a small motor launch. They reached the mainland of New Guinea a day later. Andy then lead a group of survivors across the mountain range to Bena Bena where they were flown out to Port Moresby.
In August 1943, Kirkwall-Smith left the Army and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve. He became involved in the Beach Reconnaissance Group, a sub-unit of the newly formed Amphibious Force.
He landed at Cape Gloucester late in September 1943 with the object of obtaining as much information about the enemy prior to the forthcoming Allied landings. After 12 days he was taken off by P.T. Boat bringing details of enemy gun positions, roads, barbed wire, etc.
By January 1944 the Americans had landed at Saidor to cut off Japanese retreating from Finschafen. Lieutenant Kirkwall-Smith was attached to the American forces and carried out a number of long range patrols to determine the trails that were being used by the Japanese.
On one of these patrols his Section Leader, Corporal J.C. Binks, was wounded. The native carriers who had accompanied the Allied patrol remained and carried Binks out under heavy fire.
Feldt quotes this incident as 'high tribute to Kirkwall-Smith's leadership and the trust the natives had in him'.
In February 1945 the London Gazette carried the terse citation stating that Lieutenant Andrew Kirkwall-Smith, R.A.N.V.R., was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross 'for outstanding courage and skill shown in hazardous reconnaissance operations in the Far East'. Demobbed in December 1945, Andy received a letter from Commander R.B.M. Long, O.B.E. (Director of Naval Intelligence). Long wrote:
'You have made history. Your work as a 'Coastwatcher' had a direct bearing upon operations and in the opinion of the highest ranking Allied Officers was invaluable'.
In post-War years Andy owned an orange grove at Lake Kanagaroo in Victoria, finally retiring to Swan Hill in 1970. He died on 7 January 1973 and is buried in the Swan Hill cemetery.
It is possible that the award of the Military Medal and Distinguished Service Cross to one man is a unique honour for an Australian. What is certain is the outstanding bravery displayed by Andrew Kirkwall-Smith when facing his country's enemies 'face-to-face in two World Wars'.
D.S.C. London Gazette 20.2.1945 'For outstanding courage and skill shown in hazardous reconnaissance operations in the Far East'.
M.M. London Gazette 16.11.1917.
Lieutenant Andrew Kirkwall Smith, D.S.C., M.M., was born in Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands in August 1896 and migrated to Australia in the early 1900s. Just as he was settling into his first job War was declared and against the wishes of his father, and undoubtedly influenced by the news filtering back from Gallipoli, he enlisted into the A.I.F., aged nearly 20 years. Appointed a Private in the 7th Battalion, he landed at Anzac just one day before the decision was made to pull out. Frustrated at this failed attempt to see action, Smith transferred to the 59th and then the 60th Battalion. Embarking for France in June 1916, he afterwards joined the 13th Field Artillery Brigade and saw more than his fair share of action throughout the bloody years of 1917-18, his M.M. for 'conspicuous services and bravery in the field' being gazetted at the end of the former year. Latterly promoted to Sergeant, he took his discharge in August 1919 and purchased a plantation on the Rai Coast in North-East New Guinea. And there he might have remained in relative peace but for the renewed advent of hostilities and the Japanese attacks on Rabaul, New Britain and Madang. Michael Downey takes up the story in his biographical article published in The Sabretache (April-June, 1987):
'As the last flight of enemy bombers disappeared into the twilight a small, battered schooner slipped into Madang Harbour. Bob Emery, then a Sergeant in the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, went down to check the new arrival. "It was the first time I'd met Andy Kirkwall-Smith. He had sailed down from his plantation on the coast to enlist as soon as he had heard the Japs had attacked. Bob Emery was happy to sign up another recruit "even if he was a bit long-in-the-tooth". At that stage Bob was guarding the Madang airfield with a total force consisting of three white soldiers and ten native police! And as Andrew Kirkwall-Smith signed his enlistment papers no doubt his thoughts went back some 26 years to July 1915 when, as a young man of 20, he took the King's shilling for the first time...'
'From February 1942 until August 1943, Kirkwall-Smith served with the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles and "M" Special Unit. He was promoted to Warrant Officer 2nd Class after a number of hair-raising episodes that included the evacuation of refugees from Rabaul and their safe conduct to an inter-island steamer that was bound for Australia.
Throughout these hectic months Bob Emery fought alongside Andy. Bob recalled that they were offered a berth on the steamer back to Australia but both agreed that the boat did not have much chance of getting through. They returned to Madang, stocked up on supplies and went bush. They finally linked up with other Australian troops and Bob transferred to the 5th Independent Company A.I.F. He was later wounded in action and awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.
Eric Feldt, in his book, The Coastwatchers, gives a vivid description of the work done by Andrew Kirkwall-Smith as a member of the Allied Intelligence Bureau. During the latter half of 1942, Kirkwall-Smith was operating behind the lines on the Rai Coast of New Guinea providing information on enemy movements around Buna. Early in 1943 he crossed Vitiaz Strait and landed at Cape Gloucester in New Britain. From his position it was possible to observe any Japanese activity from Rabaul towards the Huon Gulf.
Kirkwall-Smith's party was ambushed by a Japanese barge as they returned in their canoes. He dived overboard and swam ashore, hiding in the jungle until night fell. Unarmed and barefooted, he crept back through the jungle to the base camp where a lone native told him the story of the Japanese attack. Then followed two days of trudging through dense jungle until, exhausted and with his feet cut to ribbons by coral, Kirkwall-Smith linked up with a missionary, V. Neumann, another 'Coastwatcher' who had a small motor launch. They reached the mainland of New Guinea a day later. Andy then lead a group of survivors across the mountain range to Bena Bena where they were flown out to Port Moresby.
In August 1943, Kirkwall-Smith left the Army and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve. He became involved in the Beach Reconnaissance Group, a sub-unit of the newly formed Amphibious Force.
He landed at Cape Gloucester late in September 1943 with the object of obtaining as much information about the enemy prior to the forthcoming Allied landings. After 12 days he was taken off by P.T. Boat bringing details of enemy gun positions, roads, barbed wire, etc.
By January 1944 the Americans had landed at Saidor to cut off Japanese retreating from Finschafen. Lieutenant Kirkwall-Smith was attached to the American forces and carried out a number of long range patrols to determine the trails that were being used by the Japanese.
On one of these patrols his Section Leader, Corporal J.C. Binks, was wounded. The native carriers who had accompanied the Allied patrol remained and carried Binks out under heavy fire.
Feldt quotes this incident as 'high tribute to Kirkwall-Smith's leadership and the trust the natives had in him'.
In February 1945 the London Gazette carried the terse citation stating that Lieutenant Andrew Kirkwall-Smith, R.A.N.V.R., was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross 'for outstanding courage and skill shown in hazardous reconnaissance operations in the Far East'. Demobbed in December 1945, Andy received a letter from Commander R.B.M. Long, O.B.E. (Director of Naval Intelligence). Long wrote:
'You have made history. Your work as a 'Coastwatcher' had a direct bearing upon operations and in the opinion of the highest ranking Allied Officers was invaluable'.
In post-War years Andy owned an orange grove at Lake Kanagaroo in Victoria, finally retiring to Swan Hill in 1970. He died on 7 January 1973 and is buried in the Swan Hill cemetery.
It is possible that the award of the Military Medal and Distinguished Service Cross to one man is a unique honour for an Australian. What is certain is the outstanding bravery displayed by Andrew Kirkwall-Smith when facing his country's enemies 'face-to-face in two World Wars'.