Gnr Smith, of Killara and then Roseville, embarked with the 17 Anti-Tank Battery from Sydney aboard the HMAT Zealandia on 9 September 1941 and served in New Britain. Following the Japanese invasion of January 1942, he was taken prisoner of war (POW) and held at Rabaul. On 22 June 1942 Gnr Smith was one of an estimated 845 POWs and 209 civilians who embarked from Rabaul aboard the Japanese transport ship MV Montevideo Maru. The POWs were members of 17 Anti Tank Battery, No. 1 Independent Company, 2/22 Battalion, and other units of Lark Force. Civilians included officials of the New Guinea Administration, businessmen, planters and missionaries. The ship sailed unescorted for Hainan Island. On 1 July 1942 all the prisoners died when the Montevideo Maru was torpedoed by a US Navy submarine, USS Sturgeon, off the coast of Luzon Island in the Philippines.
Information from: www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1292592
Gunner Keith Morden (Jim) Smith, NX 52916, was the oldest son of Tom Keith ‘TK’ Smith and his wife, Gladys Sylvia, née Pinnington. He was an adored elder brother of Elizabeth (Betty) (1918) and Peter (1926-1980). ‘TK’ Smith was an accountant with Thomas Davis in Sydney, later on he became a senior partner till his retirement.
He attended Roseville Public School and then went on to Sydney Grammar School as his father had been a pupil there. He rowed in the 2nd 4’s for Grammar, during his time at school.
After he finished his schooling he went to Wagga Experimental Farm, where he completed a course. After finishing that he returned to Sydney and filled in doing deliveries for McDowell’s store in the city, after that he worked in the store in George Street, Sydney.
He married Barbara Walsh on 23 July 1941 in Chatswood, Sydney, and enlisted on 5 July 1940 at age 24. Jim was firstly with 17th Anti-Tank Battery, then 2/22nd Tank Attack, Lark Force. He was sent to Rabaul in September 1941, and when the Japanese attacked, they went to the top of a hill where they thought that they could see all around, but the Japanese came up from the beach and they were all taken prisoners.
In one of his letters home, he said that they had been entertained at the Governor’s Residence prior to the Japanese landing in Rabaul and when he pulled out a chair for Lady McNicholl it had collapsed!
He was reported to be amongst the other enlisted men aboard the Montevideo Maru when it was torpedoed in the Lingayen Gulf, near Luzon, on 1 July 1942 with the loss of all allied lives.
My grandparents didn’t find out that their son was missing until they received a telegram after the war reporting him missing, presumed dead. My grandfather had a heart attack when receiving the news, but survived this attack.
Story courtesy of Judy Ireland
Tributes:
There is a plaque in honour of Keith Smith of Lark Force who died on the Montevideo Maru on the gates of the St Martin’s Church at Killara, Sydney.
When the War Came: New Guinea Islands 1942 published by the Papua New Guinea Association of Australia 2017 ISBN: 978-0-6480085-1-4,
Pages 400 and 494
3 tributes for Keith Morden Smith were placed in the Sydney Morning Herald of Wednesday 24 October 1945:
SMITH – July 1 1942 reported lost at sea on Montevideo Maru NX 52916 Gunner Keith Morden (Jim) dearlv loved husband of Barbara, 5 Oliver Road Roseville.
SMITH – July 1 1942 reported lost at sea on Montevideo Maru NX52916 Gunner Keith Morden (Jim) 17th Anti-tank Battery beloved elder son of Mr and Mrs T Keith Smith, Caithness Street, Killara; brother of Betty and Peter (ex R A A F) and brother in law of John Ives (R A A F) Also a tribute to his comrades.
SMITH – July 1 1942 reported lost at sea on Montevideo Maru NX52916 Gunner Keith Morden (Jim) Smith, loving son-in-law and brother-in-law of Mrs E.M. Walsh and family, 5 Oliver Road Roseville.