Smyth, James Frederick (War correspondent, b.1905 - d.1997) Accession Number: PR00928

Description

Collection relating to the Second World War and Korean War experiences of war correspondent James 'Jim' Frederick Smyth of the Daily Mirror and Truth newspapers. The collection consists of press telegrams, correspondence, newspaper clippings, official documents, serials, and ephemera created during Smyth's employment as a war correspondent for the Sydney newspapers the Daily Mirror and Truth, as well as Smyth's post-war career working in public relations for QANTAS airlines, and the New South Wales Society for Crippled Children.

Wallet 1 of 7 contains 76 press telegrams written by Smyth between March and June 1943 for the Daily Mirror. The copy relates to Smyth's reporting on the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Australian Navy in the Southwest Pacific Area, including Darwin and other areas of Australia. Additionally, the wallet contains two issues of Army News dated May 4 and May 5 1943, a letter inviting Smyth to cover a Repair and Salvage Unit survey, and two telegraphs commending Smyth on his articles.

Wallet 2 of 7 contains 69 newspaper clippings, articles, and press telegrams written by Smyth, largely between April and August 1943. The wallet contains one document dated from July 31 1942. The copy relates to Smyth's reporting on the Royal Australian Air Force and the Australian Army in the Southwest Pacific Area, including Darwin and other areas of Australia. The wallet also contains an order of the day by Govenor-General Lord Gowrie issued 18 August 1943 commending the work of Allied forces in the Northern Territory.

Wallet 3 of 7 contains 71 newspaper clippings, articles, press telegrams, and items of ephemera written or collected by Smyth between March 1944 and the end of the war in August 1945. The copy relates to Smyth's reporting on the Royal Australian Air Force and the Australian Army in the Southwest Pacific Area, including Darwin and other areas of Australia. The wallet also includes an issue of SALT, the Army Educational Journal from 1945, and an order of Service of Thanksgiving commemorating the Allied victory in the Pacific.

Wallet 4 of 7 contains 73 official forms and documents, identity documents, maps, and published ephemera. The first folder contains regulations for accredited war correspondents, a booklet titled "The Borneo Book for Servicemen", a newspaper clipping about Borneo and the indigenous Dyak peoples, and two maps. The second folder contains Smyth's war correspondent's credential and identification card, forms authorising his movement as a correspondent, a permit to board ships, an itinerary for a tour of various military establishments, booklets of standing orders for war correspondents, cartoons and articles clipped from serials, and an issue of Wings, official magazine of the RAAF.

Wallet 5 of 7 contains 57 items. The first folder contains assorted newspaper clippings and articles relating to the Second World War, written by both Smyth and other reporters. The second folder contains documents, correspondences, and ephemera relating to Smyth's reporting on the Korean War, dated 1952-1953. The items include letters from servicemen commending Smyth on his work in Korea, ephemera collected by Smyth during his time in Korea, a transcript of a broadcast made by Smyth on the ABC, and an article written by smith about Len Opie DCM and Jack Morrison DCM.

Wallets 6 of 7 contains 40 correspondences, newspaper clippings, articles, and a notepad. The contents of the folder appear to have been created variously between 1933 and 1944, and appear to have been Smyth's research material relating to the Northern Territory. Much of the printed material relates to the pre-war and wartime development of Darwin, and articles about Indigenous Australian peoples of the Northern Territory. The wallet contains a letter written to Smyth by correspondent Barry Young, offering Smyth advice on sources and contacts.

Wallet 7 of 7 contains 87 newspaper clippings, booklets, documents, articles, and hand- and typewritten notes. The contents of the folder appear to have been Smyth's research material relating to the Northern Territory.

Contextual Description

During Smyth's coverage of war in the Pacific, during 1942-45, he reported on locations and situations in Darwin, Timor, New Britain, Tarakan, Morotai, the Labuan landings, the Japanese surrender at Kuching and various exotic and remote locations - often described vaguely for security reasons e.g "Somewhere in New Britain" throughout his main reporting area: the South West Pacific. The despatches clearly indicate Smyth's style of writing and also sustained periods of very difficult working conditions. During the Korean War, Smyth was attached to the British Commonwealth Division.

Details

Conflicts

• Korean War, 1950-1953
• Second World War, 1939-1945

Tags

• Newspapers
• Journalists
• War correspondents