[2] During the Second World War, he served with the 1st Battalion Royal Natal Carabineers[3] 1st SA Infantry Division, South African Forces in the East Africa Campaign against the Italians before moving to the Western Desert.

Although he had a wound in his forehead, causing much loss of blood, he managed single-handedly to obliterate a machine gun post, taking all the surviving crew prisoner.

Realising the threat to his position, Sergeant Smythe himself stalked and destroyed the nest with hand grenades, capturing, the crew.

Though weak from loss of blood, he continued to lead the advance, and on encountering an anti-tank gun position again attacked it single-handed and captured the crew.

[6] Auctioned in UK 1998, the medal is now part of the Lord Ashcroft Collection at the Imperial War Museum in London.