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

rower Rowing, often called crew in the United States, is the sport of racing boats using oars. It differs from paddling sports in that rowing oars (called blades in the United Kingdom) are attached to the boat using rowlocks, while paddles are ...

. At the

1938 British Empire Games The 1938 British Empire Games were 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 yea ...

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 (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, 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 British Armed Forces, armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth countries, below commissioned o ...

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 New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, 1995 * "New" (Daya song), 2017 * "New" (No Doubt song), 19 ...

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 bronze medallists in rowing New Zealand military personnel of World War II Recipients of the Military Medal Medallists at the 1938 British Empire Games 20th-century New Zealand sportsmen {{NewZealand-rowing-bio-stub