John Smith (sergeant)

John Smith
Born	February 1814 Ticknall, Derbyshire
Died	26 June 1864 (aged 50) Jullundur, British India
Buried at	Artillery Cemetery, Jullundur
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Bengal Army
Rank	Ensign
Unit	Bengal Sappers and Miners
Battles/wars	First Anglo-Afghan War First Anglo-Sikh War Indian Mutiny
Awards	Victoria Cross

John Smith VC (February 1814 – 26 June 1864) 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.

Details

Smith was 43 years old, and a sergeant in the Bengal Sappers and Miners, Bengal Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 14 September 1857 at Delhi, British India, Sergeant Smith with two lieutenants (Duncan Charles Home and Philip Salkeld) and Bugler Robert Hawthorne showed conspicuous gallantry in the blowing in the Kashmir Gate in broad daylight under heavy fire. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry, in conjunction with Lieutenants Home and Salkeld, in the performance of the desperate duty of blowing in the Cashmere Gate of the fortress of Delhi in broad daylight, under a heavy and destructive fire of musketry, on the morning of 14 September 1857, preparatory to the assault.

(General Order of Major-General Sir Archdale Wilson, Bart., K.C.B., dated Head Quarters, Delhi City, September 21, 1857.) ^[1]

References

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

External links

• Royal Engineers Museum Sappers VCs