John Manners Smith

John Manners Smith VC CIE CVO (Lahore 30 August 1864 - London 6 January 1920) was a 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

He was 27 years old, and a lieutenant in the Indian Staff Corps, British Indian Army, and 5th Gurkha Rifles, during the Hunza-Naga Campaign, India when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 20 December 1891 near Nilt Fort, India, Lieutenant Smith led the storming party at the attack and capture of a strong position occupied by the enemy. For nearly four hours on the face of the cliff which was almost precipitous, he moved his handful of men from point to point, and during this time he was unable to defend himself from any attack which the enemy chose to make. He was the first man to reach the summit within a few yards of one of the enemy's sangars, which was immediately rushed, the lieutenant pistolling the first man.

Further information

He later achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Gurkha Museum "(Winchester, Hampshire, England)".

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/kensalgr.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(Kensal Green Cemetery)"