SergeantEdward David "Ted" SmoutOAM (5 January 1898 – 22 June 2004) was an Australian soldier in the First World War. He was Australia's 6th last surviving World War I veteran.
Smout served in the army as a stretcher bearer. He was notably one of the first on the scene upon the landing of Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron, after he had been shot down and was witness to his final words. He was also the last surviving witness of Richthofen's death.[1]
Smout was born in Brisbane, Queensland in 1898. He joined the Australian Army Medical Corps in September 1915 at the age of 17, giving his age as 18 years 8 months.[2] Upon arrival in France, he was posted to the 3rd Sanitary Section of the Australian Army Medical Corps where he served as a stretcher bearer.
During an engagement near the Somme River on 21 April 1918, Smout was an eyewitness to the final moments in the life and career of the famous German flying ace Manfred von Richthofen (aka the "Red Baron"), whose aeroplane had landed nearby after he was fatally shot. Smout reported that Richthofen's last word was "kaputt" ("finished") just before he died.[3] Smout said later in life that he resisted the temptation to souvenir the Red Baron's boots and Iron Cross. He was discharged on 8 September 1919. In 1922, Ted joined an insurance firm, beginning a successful career that would last till his retirement in 1958.[4]
He was awarded France's highest honour, being made a Chevalier (Knight) of the Legion d'Honneur in 1998 and also received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community. A regular participant in Anzac Day marches, Smout became one of the most celebrated war veterans in Queensland as one of Australia's last surviving WWI veterans. He died at 106 years old, predeceased by his wife of 69 years, Ella Annie Grace Stevens (November 1, 1900 – March 7, 1992). He is survived by his three children, 12 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
His son, Dr. Westall David "Westy" Smout (June 11, 1924 – March 27, 2020), himself a Second World War "Bomber Navigator" veteran. On July 14, 1950, Westy married Dr. Ruth A. Yolanda Cilento (July 30, 1925 – April 18, 2016), the second daughter of doctors Sir Raphael Cilento and Phyllis McGlew.
According to historical journalist Jonathan King, "Ted Smout's legacy is in the hundreds of newspaper articles written about him, the book he wrote Three Centuries Spanned, hours and hours of video footage instructing Australians not to get involved in conflicts like Iraq or Afghanistan. His main message always was we should not glorify war. It was a mistake to fight in a far flung battle that had nothing to do with Australia, and he pleaded with the nation never to do it again."[5]
He appeared in the series People's Century discussing his recollections of the First World War in the episode "Killing Fields". Because of his eyewitness account of Richthofen's death, he also often appeared in the media. Some of his last known footage was talking in 2002 (aged about 104) for the Discovery Channel detective-documentary film about the Red Baron's death.
^"World War I digger Ted Smout dies - National - www.smh.com.au". www.smh.com.au. 23 June 2004. from the original on 4 May 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
^National Archives of Australia (19 April 2001). "SMOUT Edward David : Service Number - 12947 : Place of Birth - Brisbane QLD : Place of Enlistment - Brisbane QLD : Next of Kin - (Mother) SMOUT Emma Elizabeth - Discovering Anzacs - National Archives of Australia and Archives NZ". discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au. from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
National Archives of Australia Service Record for Sgt E.D. Smout, Regt Number 12947
January 01, 1970
edward, smout, sergeant, edward, david, smout, january, 1898, june, 2004, australian, soldier, first, world, australia, last, surviving, world, veteran, smout, served, army, stretcher, bearer, notably, first, scene, upon, landing, manfred, richthofen, baron, a. Sergeant Edward David Ted Smout OAM 5 January 1898 22 June 2004 was an Australian soldier in the First World War He was Australia s 6th last surviving World War I veteran Smout served in the army as a stretcher bearer He was notably one of the first on the scene upon the landing of Manfred von Richthofen the Red Baron after he had been shot down and was witness to his final words He was also the last surviving witness of Richthofen s death 1 Contents 1 Biography 2 Death 3 Honours and awards 4 References 5 External linksBiography editSmout was born in Brisbane Queensland in 1898 He joined the Australian Army Medical Corps in September 1915 at the age of 17 giving his age as 18 years 8 months 2 Upon arrival in France he was posted to the 3rd Sanitary Section of the Australian Army Medical Corps where he served as a stretcher bearer During an engagement near the Somme River on 21 April 1918 Smout was an eyewitness to the final moments in the life and career of the famous German flying ace Manfred von Richthofen aka the Red Baron whose aeroplane had landed nearby after he was fatally shot Smout reported that Richthofen s last word was kaputt finished just before he died 3 Smout said later in life that he resisted the temptation to souvenir the Red Baron s boots and Iron Cross He was discharged on 8 September 1919 In 1922 Ted joined an insurance firm beginning a successful career that would last till his retirement in 1958 4 He was awarded France s highest honour being made a Chevalier Knight of the Legion d Honneur in 1998 and also received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community A regular participant in Anzac Day marches Smout became one of the most celebrated war veterans in Queensland as one of Australia s last surviving WWI veterans He died at 106 years old predeceased by his wife of 69 years Ella Annie Grace Stevens November 1 1900 March 7 1992 He is survived by his three children 12 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren His son Dr Westall David Westy Smout June 11 1924 March 27 2020 himself a Second World War Bomber Navigator veteran On July 14 1950 Westy married Dr Ruth A Yolanda Cilento July 30 1925 April 18 2016 the second daughter of doctors Sir Raphael Cilento and Phyllis McGlew According to historical journalist Jonathan King Ted Smout s legacy is in the hundreds of newspaper articles written about him the book he wrote Three Centuries Spanned hours and hours of video footage instructing Australians not to get involved in conflicts like Iraq or Afghanistan His main message always was we should not glorify war It was a mistake to fight in a far flung battle that had nothing to do with Australia and he pleaded with the nation never to do it again 5 He appeared in the series People s Century discussing his recollections of the First World War in the episode Killing Fields Because of his eyewitness account of Richthofen s death he also often appeared in the media Some of his last known footage was talking in 2002 aged about 104 for the Discovery Channel detective documentary film about the Red Baron s death He was a supporter of Australian becoming a republic and was a member of the Australian Republic Movement 6 7 Death editHe died in 2004 aged 106 At the time he was the oldest surviving veteran of the war Honours and awards editMedal of the Order of Australia awarded 6 June 1978 British War Medal Victory Medal 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal awarded 21 April 1999 Centenary Medal awarded 1 January 2002 Chevalier Knight of the Legion d honneur awarded 4 July 1998 Ted Smout Memorial Bridge named in his honour 14 July 2009 References edit World War I digger Ted Smout dies National www smh com au www smh com au 23 June 2004 Archived from the original on 4 May 2011 Retrieved 19 December 2017 National Archives of Australia 19 April 2001 SMOUT Edward David Service Number 12947 Place of Birth Brisbane QLD Place of Enlistment Brisbane QLD Next of Kin Mother SMOUT Emma Elizabeth Discovering Anzacs National Archives of Australia and Archives NZ discoveringanzacs naa gov au Archived from the original on 22 December 2017 Retrieved 19 December 2017 Unsolved History Death of the Red Baron 2002 Produced by Termite Art Productions for Discovery Channel Moore Tony 11 July 2010 Australia s longest bridge opens at Redcliffe Brisbane Times Retrieved 27 November 2021 Ted Smout 1898 2004 Archived 12 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine 7 30 Report 23 June 2004 Edward Smout Australians at War Film Archive University of New South Wales Archived from the original on 26 August 2020 Retrieved 26 August 2020 A soldier and a gentleman Australian Broadcasting Corporation 23 June 2004 Archived from the original on 26 August 2020 Retrieved 26 August 2020 External links editNational Archives of Australia Service Record for Sgt E D Smout Regt Number 12947 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward Smout amp oldid 1215461714, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
