THE Queen has been graciously pleased to signify Her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Officers and Private Soldier, whose claims have been submitted for Her Majesty's approval, for their conspicuous bravery during the recent operations in the Soudan, [sic] as recorded against their names:— [...] 2nd Dragoon Guards, Captain Nevill Maskelyne Smyth

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

[11] In November 1899 he was Intelligence officer and ADC to Colonel Lewis, commanding the Infantry Brigade during the operations leading to the defeat of the Khalifa in the Battle of Umm Diwaykarat.

[13] Smyth rejoined the Queens Bays for active service in South Africa in the Second Boer War.

[14] Smyth was promoted to substantive major on 27 October 1903 when he transferred to the Carabiniers (6th Dragoon Guards),[15] who were then in India and returned to South Africa in 1908.

[3][21][22] 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.

[23] He was mentioned in dispatches twice more, on 15 May 1917[24] and 11 December 1917,[25] and was promoted substantive major general on 1 January 1918 as a "reward for distinguished service in the field.

[3][30] During the war he had also been awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre,[31] and the French Legion of Honour in the grade of Officer.

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

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