James Smith
Private, (his real name was James Alexander GLENN)
- Register No.
- 1163 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- (his real name was James Alexander GLENN) (register: Border Regiment) all Border Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 21 December 1914 on this day → all of 1914 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 18th February, 1915 on this day → all of 1915 →
- Born
- 5th January, 1881 at Workington, Cumberland
- Died
- 21st May 1968 at Bramble Farm, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire
- Memorial / grave
- not known
- Medal held by
- the Kings Own Royal Borderes and Borderers
Digest of citation
On 21st December 1914 at Rouges Bancs, France, Private Smith along with Private Acton (Reg No.5) voluntarily went out from their trench and rescued a wounded man who had been lying exposed against the enemy's trenches for 15 hours. On the same day they again left their trench under heavy fire to bring in another wounded man. They were under fire for 60 minutes while conveying the wounded men to safety
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SMITH, James. (reg No. 1163). (his real name was James Alexander
GLENN). Private. 3rd Battalion, Border Regiment. (attached to 2nd Battalion).
London Gazetted on 18th February, 1915.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Kings Own Royal Borderes and Borderers Museum, Carlisle, Cumbria.
Born on 5th January, 1881 at Workington, Cumberland.
Died on 21st May 1968 at Bramble Farm, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 21st December 1914 at Rouges Bancs, France, Private Smith along with Private Acton (Reg No.5) voluntarily went out from their trench and rescued a wounded man who had been lying exposed against the enemy's trenches for 15 hours. On the same day they again left their trench under heavy fire to bring in another wounded man. They were under fire for 60 minutes while conveying the wounded men to safety.
Private. 3rd Battalion, Border Regiment. (attached to 2nd Battalion).
Museum, Carlisle, Cumbria.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour James Smith by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.