Edward Smart

Updated on Sep 23, 2024

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Nickname(s) Ken Years of service 1910–1946 Died 1961 (1962) (aged 69) Rank Lieutenant General		Allegiance Australia Name Edward Smart Service/branch Australian Army

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Lieutenant General Edward Kenneth Smart DSO, MC (23 May 1891 – 1961) was a career officer in the Australian Army, and subsequently a diplomat.

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Early years

Ken Smart was born 23 May 1891 in Kew, an inner suburb of Melbourne, Australia, and was educated at Melbourne C.E.G.S (Church of England Grammar School). He was commissioned into the Corps of Australian Engineers as a Second Lieutenant on 18 July 1910. On 1 December 1910 he was promoted to Lieutenant with RAGA (Royal Australian Garrison Artillery), and by 1914 was an officer of the Siege Artillery Brigade (SAB) commanded by (then) Lieutenant Colonel Walter Adams Coxen. On 12 June 1915 he married Phyllis E. Robertson.

First World War

Smart enlisted in the AIF on 21 May 1915, married on 12 June, and on 17 July the Siege Artillery Brigade embarked upon HMAT Orsova (A67) from Melbourne, arriving England 25 August 1915.

He arrived in France on 2 March 1916, and saw action at Vimy Ridge in May before becoming involved in the Battle of the Somme from June 1916 to March 1917. In September 1916, during the course of heavy fighting in which he was wounded, his actions led to him being awarded the Military Cross. The citation reads:

Lt. Edward Kenneth Smart, R.-Arty.

For conspicuous gallantry in action. Although wounded, he observed throughout the day with great courage and skill, sending back valuable information. He has previously done fine work.

On 13 December 1916 he was appointed adjutant of the 36th Heavy Artillery Group (HAG) and promoted to the rank of captain. During 1917 he was placed in command of 39th Battery, 10th Aust FAB (Field Arty Bde), 4th Australian Division, and saw action in Messines (May–June), near Nieuport (July) and near Dixmude (October). In November 1917 he took a position in HQ 4 Div Artillery as a Brigade-Major Trainee, and in December he was mentioned in despatches.

In April 1918 he took a position at HQ Australia Corps near Albert, and in June was promoted to Major (brevet), taking command of 110th Howitzer Battery, 10th Aust Field Arty Bde. Involved in heavy fighting in August and September, he was seriously wounded on 27 September 1918, and subsequently recommended for the Distinguished Service Order.

His World War I service resulted in nine entries in the Australian War Memorial's Honours and Awards database:

Inter-bellum

After discharge from the AIF, he remained in the Army and from 31 May to 1 October 1919 attended Artillery College in England. He returned to Australia and, from 16 February to 10 September 1920, served as "OC No. 6 Coy RAGA 3 MD" – Officer Commanding No. 6 Company, Royal Australian Garrison Artillery, 3rd Military District (Victoria).

He then returned to England until February 1925 where he served in a number of positions:

On return to Australia, he served in a number of positions until January 1936:

On 16 January 1936, he took up the position of Military Liaison Officer in the High Commissioner's Office in London, serving there until 25 August 1939, being promoted to Colonel (brevet) in July 1937.

Second World War

On return to Australia, and the outbreak of the Second World War, on 13 October 1939 he was promoted to major general and appointed "QMG (3rd Mil Member) Mil Board AHQ" – QuarterMaster General, 3rd Military Member of the Military Board, Army Headquarters (Melbourne). On 24 October 1940 he was promoted to temporary Lieutenant General and appointed "GOC Southern Comd and Dist Officer Comd 3 MD" – General Officer Commanding, Southern Command, and District Officer Commanding the 3rd Military District (Victoria).

In April 1942 he was made substantive Lieutenant General and was appointed Australian Military Representative in Washington D.C. (i.e. Head of the Australian Military Mission to the USA). In August 1942 he was appointed Australian Army Representative in London; as well as being Head of the Australian Military Mission to the UK, he was Australia's representative on the Imperial War Council. He remained in this position until his discharge (in England) from the AIF, and retirement from the Australian Armed Forces, on 2 July 1946.

Post-military career and personal life

From London he proceeded to San Francisco where he served as Australian Consul-General from 1946 to 1949, and then to New York, where he continued to serve as Australian Consul-General, from 1946 until his retirement in 1954.

He married Phyllis E. Robertson, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel J. Robertson, on 12 June 1915. They had two children; a son and a daughter. Smart's recreations were walking and motoring, and his club was the Navy, Army and Air Force Club in Melbourne.

Smart died in 1961.