John Smith
Sergeant, Bengal Sappers and Miners
- Register No.
- 1164 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant (register: Private) all Sergeants →
- Unit
- Bengal Sappers and Miners (register: 1st Madras European Fusiliers) all 1st Madras European Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 16 November 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- 27th April 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Born
- in February 1814 at Ticknal, Derbyshire
- Memorial / grave
- long grave at the Artillery Cemetery,Jullundur, India
- Medal held by
- unknown
Digest of citation
On 14th September 1857, at the Kashmir Gate, Delhi, India, Sergeant John Smith showed conspicuous gallantry, along with Lieutenant Salkeld and a Lieutenant Home, 8 Sappers and Bugler Hawthorne, in the performance of their duty blowing in the Kashmir Gate, of the fortress, in daylight. All the time the action took place under heavy, destructive musket-fire from the fort. (This is all that is virtually stated in the citation.) His name appears on the Kashmir Gate but reports him as killed. More to be added
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SMITH, John. (reg No. 1164).
Sergeant. Bengal Sappers and Miners.
London Gazetted on 27th April 1858.
VC Medal's Custodian is unknown.
Born in February 1814 at Ticknal, Derbyshire.
Died from dysentery on 26th June 1864 at Jullundur, India.
Memorial long grave at the Artillery Cemetery,Jullundur, India.
Digest of Citation reads: On 14th September 1857, at the Kashmir Gate, Delhi, India, Sergeant John Smith showed conspicuous gallantry, along with Lieutenant Salkeld and a Lieutenant Home, 8 Sappers and Bugler Hawthorne, in the performance of their duty blowing in the Kashmir Gate, of the fortress, in daylight. All the time the action took place under heavy, destructive musket-fire from the fort. (This is all that is virtually stated in the citation.) His name appears on the Kashmir Gate but reports him as killed. More to be added.
Died from dysentery on 26th June 1864 at Jullundur, India.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: long grave at the Artillery Cemetery,Jullundur, 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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