Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Martin Hamilton-Smith has paid tribute to Mr Bill Schmitt AM who died on Wednesday in the company of family and friends.
Mr Schmitt turned 97 last month. He was a member of the 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion, 7th Division, 2nd AIF, during the Second World War.
“The thoughts of the veteran community are with Mr Schmitt’s family during this difficult time,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.
Mr Schmitt fought in the Syrian campaign during 1941, during which the 7th Division defeated the Vichy French.
The 2/3rd MG Battalion was in the convoy which was recalled to Australia after the fall of Singapore in February 1942. The troops in this battalion were sent to Java to assist the Dutch to fight the Japanese. They fought valiantly for almost a month as infantry troops because their Vickers machine guns were on a different ship which sailed on to Australia.
They were captured in early March 1942, Mr Schmitt and his mates spent the next three and a half years as prisoners of war of the Japanese.
After the war, Mr Schmitt worked for Elders, married Joan on 24 April, 1946 and raised three children, Sue, Robyn and Lincoln. After retirement in 1978 Mr Schmitt became heavily involved with veterans and their general well-being, principally through the Ex-Prisoners of War Association (SA).
Mr Schmitt was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1994 for services to veterans, particularly through the Prisoners of War Association. He also received a Centenary Medal in 2001 for service to the veterans’ community in South Australia.
Mr Schmitt continued to serve veterans as an inaugural member of the Veterans’ Advisory Council from 1 January, 2009 until 2 June, 2014 following his admission to the ViTA Complex.
“Mr Schmitt’s contribution on the Veterans’ Advisory Council was outstanding and his down to earth common sense approach to issues of concern to veterans provided the State Government with frank and fearless advice,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.
In October 2012 Mr Schmitt and his daughter Mrs Sue Allard, travelled to Japan as part of the Japanese POW Friendship Program. The program aims to promote mutual understanding between the peoples of Japan and Australia by fostering a spirit of reconciliation and encouraging the growth of friendship between the two nations.
Mr Schmitt spoke to many young Japanese people and received an apology for his treatment from then Japanese Foreign Minister, Koichiro Gemba.
Mr Schmitt often said, “It is pointless hating people, it doesn’t get you anywhere and the only person you hurt is yourself.”
“His capacity to forgive and reconcile with the people of Japan was truly inspirational,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.
Lest we forget.