Robert Benedict Seymour Smith (15 April 1909 – 13 January 1993) was a New Zealand rower. At the

1938 British Empire Games The 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the event that evolved to become the Commonwealth Games. Held in Sydney, Australia from 5–12 February 1938, they were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary (150 ye ...

he won two bronze medals: one in the men's double sculls alongside

Gus Jackson Augustus Kenneth George Jackson (25 December 1903 – 12 November 1968) was a New Zealand rower. He won two bronze medals at the 1938 British Empire Games, winning one as part of the men's eight and another bronze medal alongside Bob Smit ...

; and one in the men's single sculls. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Smith served with the

2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

. In January 1943 he was awarded the

Military Medal The Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other arms of the armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land. The award ...

in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East. In June 1943 he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the

New Zealand Engineers The Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RNZEME) was a New Zealand Army Corps comprising Army trained tradesmen (craftsmen) who repaired Army equipment wherever New Zealand Forces served. Prior to 1946 NZEME functions were carr ...

References

1909 births 1993 deaths New Zealand male rowers Rowers at the 1938 British Empire Games Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for New Zealand Commonwealth Games medallists in rowing New Zealand military personnel of World War II Recipients of the Military Medal Medallists at the 1938 British Empire Games {{NewZealand-rowing-bio-stub