John Smith 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. Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st UK... Victoria Cross medal, ribbon, and bar. ... // Definition and linguistics The original phrase common wealth or the common weal is a calque translation of the Latin term res publica (public matters), from which the word republic comes, which was itself used as a synonym for the greek politeia as well as for the republican (i. ...

Details

He was approx. 35 years old, and a Private in the 1st Madras Fusiliers (later the Royal Dublin Fusiliers), Indian Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. A private is a military soldier of the lowest military rank (equivalent to Nato Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in). ... Official name The Royal Dublin Fusiliers Colonel-in-Chief HRH Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1908) Nicknames The Blue Caps The Dubs The Lambs The Old Toughs Motto Anniversaries Marches Slow: The British Grenadiers St Patricks Day Unnofficial: The Dublin Fusiliers Alliances Description Line Infantry regiment Creation... The Indian Army (भारतीय सेना Hindi: Bhartiya Sena) is the land force of the Military of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting land-based warfare. ... An engraving titled Sepoy Indian troops dividing the spoils after their mutiny against British rule gives a contemporary view of events from the British perspective. ...

On 16 November 1857 at Lucknow, India, Private Smith was one of the first to enter Secundra Bagh when the gateway on the north side had been burst open. He was immediately surrounded by the enemy but notwithstanding the fact that he received a sword cut on the head, a bayonet wound on the left side and bruising from the butt-end of a musket, he fought his way out and continued to perform his duties for the rest of the day. November 16 is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 45 days remaining. ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Lucknow (Hindi: लखनऊ Lakhnau) is the capital city of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. ...

Further information

Elected by the regiment.

He is buried in an unmarked grave in Taujore cemetery, India.

The medal

Please update if you know where his medal is publicly displayed

References

• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• Symbol of Courage (Max Arthur, 2005) ISBN 0 283 07351 9

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission. Monuments To Courage is a book by David Harvey, published in 1999. ... The Register of the Victoria Cross A list of all 1350 Victoria Crosses with details of each recipient ISBN 0906324033 Publisher: Cheltenham: This England Books; 1981 Size: 8vo - over 7 3/4 - 9 3/4 Pagination: 303 + 4. ...