John Smith VC

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John Smith (Ticknall, Derbyshire February 1814-26 June 1864, Jullindar, India) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

(Another John Smith (1822-1866) also received the VC for action in India http://www.royaldublinfusiliers.com/vc/vc.html).

[edit] Details

He was about 43 years old, and a sergeant in the Bengal Sappers and Miners, Indian Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 14 September 1857 at Delhi, India, Sergeant Smith with two lieutenants (Duncan Charles Home and Philip Salkeld) and a bugler (Robert Hawthorne) showed conspicuous gallantry in the desperate task of blowing in the Kashmir Gate in broad daylight under heavy and destructive musket fire, preparatory to the assault.

[edit] References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)

[edit] External Links

• Royal Engineers Museum Sappers VCs