John Manners Smith
Lieutenant, Indian Staff Corps
- Register No.
- 1165 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- Indian Staff Corps (register: 5th Gurkha Rifles) all 5th Gurkha Rifles VCs →
- Date of action
- 20 December 1891 on this day → all of 1891 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Hunza-Naga Campaign
- London Gazette
- the 12th July, 1892 on this day → all of 1892 →
- Born
- 30th August 1864 at Lahore, India
- Died
- 6th January 1920 at London
- Memorial / grave
- at Kensal Green Cemetery and on a plaque in the Sanctum Crypt, St Luke's, Chelsea, London
- Medal held by
- the Gurkha Museum, Winchester
Digest of citation
For conspicuous bravery, during the Hunza campaign, whilst leading a storming party at the attack on a strong enemy position near Nilt, India, on 20th December 1891. The position, owing to the terrain, was an extremely strong one and had prevented the force's advance for 17 days. It was eventually breached by two small parties of 50 Riflemen, the first of which, was under the command of Lieutenant Smith. It was, owing to his splendid leadership and dash, he displayed so well, that the attack was a success and the post captured. For almost four hours, on the face of an almost precipitous cliff, he carefully moved the handful of men from place to place. The difficulties of the terrain, which included showers of stones from above, made it that he was unable, in this position, to defend himself from any attack the enemy may choose to make. He was the first to reach the summit, at a place within a few yards of the enemy's stone breastwork around the post. They immediately rushed the enemy, Lieutenant Smith pistolling the first man
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SMITH, John Manners. (reg No. 1165).
Lieutenant. Indian Staff Corps. * London Gazetted on the 12th July, 1892.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Gurkha Museum, Winchester.
Born on 30th August 1864 at Lahore, India.
Died on 6th January 1920 at London.
Memorial on grave at Kensal Green Cemetery and on a plaque in the Sanctum Crypt, St Luke's, Chelsea, London.
Digest of Citation reads: For conspicuous bravery, during the Hunza campaign, whilst leading a storming party at the attack on a strong enemy position near Nilt, India, on 20th December 1891. The position, owing to the terrain, was an extremely strong one and had prevented the force's advance for 17 days. It was eventually breached by two small parties of 50 Riflemen, the first of which, was under the command of Lieutenant Smith. It was, owing to his splendid leadership and dash, he displayed so well, that the attack was a success and the post captured. For almost four hours, on the face of an almost precipitous cliff, he carefully moved the handful of men from place to place. The difficulties of the terrain, which included showers of stones from above, made it that he was unable, in this position, to defend himself from any attack the enemy may choose to make. He was the first to reach the summit, at a place within a few yards of the enemy's stone breastwork around the post. They immediately rushed the enemy, Lieutenant Smith pistolling the first man.
Additional information:. Lieutenant Colonel Smith was made a Companion, The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire (CIE), as well as a Commander, The Royal Victorian Order (CVO). He was the son of Surgeon-General Charles Manners Smith F. R. C. S. He was educated at Trinity College, Stratford-upon-Avon; King Edward VI School, Norfolk and Sandhurst. A Lieutenant in 1883 in the Norfolk Regiment, 1885 the Indian Staff Corps; 3rd Sikhs and from 1885-87,the Fifth Gurkha Rifles. Further research required.
Additional information
Lieutenant Colonel Smith was made a Companion, The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire (CIE), as well as a Commander, The Royal Victorian Order (CVO). He was the son of Surgeon-General Charles Manners Smith F. R. C. S. He was educated at Trinity College, Stratford-upon-Avon; King Edward VI School, Norfolk and Sandhurst. A Lieutenant in 1883 in the Norfolk Regiment, 1885 the Indian Staff Corps; 3rd Sikhs and from 1885-87,the Fifth Gurkha Rifles. Further research required.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Kensal Green Cemetery and on a plaque in the Sanctum Crypt, St Luke's, Chelsea, London
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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