Henry Smith
Lance-Corporal, 52nd Regiment
- Register No.
- 1159 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lance-Corporal (register: Lance Corporal) all Lance-Corporals →
- Unit
- 52nd Regiment (register: 52nd Regiment of Foot) all 52nd Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 14 September 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- 24th April 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Born
- in 1825 at Thames Ditton, Surrey
- Died
- 18th August 1862 at Gwalior, India
- Memorial / grave
- Buried in a mass grave in the cemetery at Gwalior, India
- Medal held by
- the Royal Green Jackets Museum, Winchester
Digest of citation
Under extremely heavy fire of grape-shot and musket on the Chandee Chouch, * In the City of Delhi, India on the 14th September 1857, during the assault, Lance-Corporal Smith most gallantly carried a wounded comrade to safety
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SMITH, Henry. (reg No. 1159).
Lance-Corporal. 52nd Regiment. * London Gazetted on 24th April 1858.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Green Jackets Museum, Winchester.
Born in 1825 at Thames Ditton, Surrey.
Died on 18th August 1862 at Gwalior, India.
Buried in a mass grave in the cemetery at Gwalior, India.
Digest of Citation reads: Under extremely heavy fire of grape-shot and musket on the Chandee Chouch, * In the City of Delhi, India on the 14th September 1857, during the assault, Lance-Corporal Smith most gallantly carried a wounded comrade to safety.
*2nd Battn. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
Additional information:. Sergeant Smith had been in No. 3: when it was fighting his way towards the famous silver bazaar, Chandee Chouch, when they were met with resistance from the rebels. They were forced to retire, holding the Bagam Bagh for over an hour and a half, before falling back to the church. Colonel Campbell dispersed his depleted force in the church and in the surrounding houses, their guns covering the two streets leading to the city centre. It was during this time that Sergeant Smith had made the rescue that won him the Victoria Cross. Sergeant Smith's Victoria Cross and Indian Mutiny Medal were auctioned for £70, in July 1896 at Sotheby and Wilkinson's. They were bought by the officers of the 52nd Regiment and now reside in the Royal Green Jackets Museum in Winchester.
Additional information
Sergeant Smith had been in No. 3: when it was fighting his way towards the famous silver bazaar, Chandee Chouch, when they were met with resistance from the rebels. They were forced to retire, holding the Bagam Bagh for over an hour and a half, before falling back to the church. Colonel Campbell dispersed his depleted force in the church and in the surrounding houses, their guns covering the two streets leading to the city centre. It was during this time that Sergeant Smith had made the rescue that won him the Victoria Cross. Sergeant Smith's Victoria Cross and Indian Mutiny Medal were auctioned for £70, in July 1896 at Sotheby and Wilkinson's. They were bought by the officers of the 52nd Regiment and now reside in the Royal Green Jackets Museum in Winchester.
*2nd Battn. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Buried in a mass grave in the cemetery at Gwalior, India
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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