Albert Smedley (1895 – 25 Nov 1965) was an Australian artilleryman who saw active service in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. He was a club level rowing coxswain who steered the

First Australian Imperial Force The First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during the First World War. It was formed as the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) following Britain's declaration of war on Germany on 15 Au ...

#1 eight to victory at the 1919 Henley Peace Regatta and brought the

King's Cup __NOTOC__ King's Cup (incl. translations), may refer to: Sports Football * Copa del Rey, Spanish for "King's Cup," the main national knockout tournament in men's football * King Cup (sometimes named King's Cup), Saudi Arabian men's football nati ...

to Australia.

Pre war

Smedley was raised in Sydney,

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

. Pre-war he was a signwriter and lived in East Sydney. His club coxing was from the

Sydney Rowing Club Sydney Rowing Club is the oldest rowing club in New South Wales, Australia formed in 1870. It has occupied its current site on Port Jackson's Parramatta River at Abbotsford Point since 1874. The club has a focus on its high performance and elite ...

War service

Smedley enlisted in the AIF aged 20 in August 1915. He joined the 5th Field Artillery Brigade and embarked from Sydney on HMAT ''A45 Bulla'' in November 1915. On the Western Front he served with the 22nd Field Artillery. He was mentioned in despatches for "good and gallant conduct in connection with the recent hard fighting round Pozieres" and promoted on 27 July 1916 to sergeant. Patterson, Scott (2019) ''The Oarsmen'', Hardie Grant Books He was sent to artillery school as an instructor at the Australian General Base Depot in Le Havre. At war's end Smedley coxed the AIF #1 eight at the 1919 Peace Regatta at Henley-on-Thames, the crew won the

which in time, became the trophy for the men's eight event contested annually at the Australian Interstate Regatta. Smedley was in the coxswain's seat of the AIF#2 crew for most of the training period leading up to the July 1919 Peace Regatta. Following his wily performance in the Marlow Victory Regatta in June 1919 he was one of the changes made to the AIF #1 eight just ten days before the event.1919 Marlow Victory Regatta
/ref> Later that month he again raced in the Australian AIF eight when they competed at the Inter-Allied Regatta on the Seine in Paris.

Post war

Smedley returned to Australia aboard the HMT Euripides arriving back in Oct 1919. He found a position with the State Electricity Board and also moonlighted as a taxi driver. In 1921 he married Myra Lewis and they had two children. Aged 70 he was admitted to the Concord Repatriation Hospital where he died on 25 November 1965.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smedley, Albert E 1895 births 1965 deaths Australian Army soldiers Australian military personnel of World War I Australian male rowers Australian taxi drivers Military personnel from Sydney