Frederick Augustus Smith
Captain, 43rd Regiment
- Register No.
- 1158 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain all Captains →
- Unit
- 43rd Regiment (register: 43rd Regiment of Foot) all 43rd Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 21 January 1864 on this day → all of 1864 →
- Conflict / campaign
- New Zealand Wars
- London Gazette
- 4th November 1864 on this day → all of 1864 →
- Born
- 18th November 1826 at Dublin, Ireland
- Died
- the 22nd July 1887 at Duleek, County Meath, Ireland
- Memorial / grave
- Buried in an unmarked grave in Duleek, County Meath, Ireland
- Medal held by
- unknown
Digest of citation
During an engagement at Tauanga, New Zealand, Captain Smith led his company, in a most gallant manner, in an attack on the Maori position. Although wounded before reaching the rifle pits, he jumped in and began a hand to hand fight with the occupants, giving his own men great encouragement as well as setting a fine example
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SMITH, Frederick Augustus. (reg No 1158).
Captain. 43rd Regiment. * London Gazetted on 4th November 1864.
VC Medal's Custodian is unknown.
Born on 18th November 1826 at Dublin, Ireland.
Died on the 22nd July 1887 at Duleek, County Meath, Ireland.
Buried in an unmarked grave in Duleek, County Meath, Ireland.
Digest of Citation reads: During an engagement at Tauanga, New Zealand, Captain Smith led his company, in a most gallant manner, in an attack on the Maori position. Although wounded before reaching the rifle pits, he jumped in and began a hand to hand fight with the occupants, giving his own men great encouragement as well as setting a fine example.
* Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
Additional information:. Lieutenant Colonel Smith's army career began with the 1st Foot Regiment, when he became an Ensign on the 1st January 1849, making Lieutenant on 30th April 1852; Captain on 30 the March 1855, Brevet-Major in 1865 and a Major in 1868, eventually becoming a Lieutenant Colonel in 1875. He served in the Crimea at Alma, Inkerman and Sebastopol, getting the Campaign Medal with three clasps. He also got the Turkish Medal. As a captain with the first Battalion 43rd Regiment he served in New Zealand and was engaged in the battles at Maketu and Tauranga, the latter being where he won a VC.
Additional information
Lieutenant Colonel Smith's army career began with the 1st Foot Regiment, when he became an Ensign on the 1st January 1849, making Lieutenant on 30th April 1852; Captain on 30 the March 1855, Brevet-Major in 1865 and a Major in 1868, eventually becoming a Lieutenant Colonel in 1875. He served in the Crimea at Alma, Inkerman and Sebastopol, getting the Campaign Medal with three clasps. He also got the Turkish Medal. As a captain with the first Battalion 43rd Regiment he served in New Zealand and was engaged in the battles at Maketu and Tauranga, the latter being where he won a VC.
* Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Buried in an unmarked grave in Duleek, County Meath, Ireland
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