orders for a withdrawal, which he successfully executed, defeating skilfully an enemy attempt at encirclement. Throughout the engagement Sergeant Smythe displayed remarkable disregard for danger, and his leadership and courage were an inspiration to his men.}} Later life He married Dale Griffiths, in 1945 (dissolved 1970); they had three sons and one daughter. He married Margaret Joan Shatwell in 1970; she died in 1980. He married his third wife, Patricia Stamper, in 1984. He later achieved the rank of captain and after the war served with the South African Ministry of Defence. On leaving the Department of Defence, he returned to farming in the Richmond area of Natal. He was an outstanding marksman, a passionate conservationist and animal lover. He died from cancer in Parklands Hospital Durban, South Africa in October 1997. The medal Auctioned in UK 1998, the medal is now part of the Lord Ashcroft Collection at the Imperial War Museum in London. Notes References Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999) The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997) External links Sergeant Q.G.M. Smythe in The Art of War exhibition at the UK National Archives News Item (obituary) A List of South African-born Recipients of the Victoria Cross 1855-1945 by Ross Dix-Peek 1916 births 1997 deaths People from uMngeni Local Municipality White South African people South African people of British descent South African Army officers South African military personnel of World War II South African recipients of the Victoria Cross South African World War II recipients of the Victoria Cross South Africa–United Kingdom relations Deaths from cancer in South Africa