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Alfred Smith (Victoria Cross)
Encyclopedia
Alfred Smith VC
(1861 – 6 January 1932) was an English
recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
Smith was about 24 years old, and a gunner in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, British Army
during the Mahdist War
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 17 January 1885 at the Battle of Abu Klea
, Sudan
, Gunner Smith saved a lieutenant who was being attacked by a native. The officer was superintending his gun at the time and had no weapon in his hand, but Gunner Smith, wielding the hand spike of his gun, warded off the thrust of the spear, giving the lieutenant time to draw his sword and bring the assailant to his knees. The latter, however, made a wild thrust at the officer with a long knife, which Gunner Smith again warded off, but not before the lieutenant was wounded. Gunner Smith then managed to kill the native before he could attack again.
In 1895 while working at the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich Smith was involved in an accident when his forearm was crushed by machinery.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich
, England.
Gunner Smith's unit, 1 Battery, Southern Division, Royal Artillery, was later re-numbered 176 Battery
and still exists today. In 1955 it was awarded the honour title "Abu Klea" in recognition of Gunner Smith's VC.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(1861 – 6 January 1932) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Smith was about 24 years old, and a gunner in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the Mahdist War
Mahdist War
The Mahdist War was a colonial war of the late 19th century. It was fought between the Mahdist Sudanese and the Egyptian and later British forces. It has also been called the Anglo-Sudan War or the Sudanese Mahdist Revolt. The British have called their part in the conflict the Sudan Campaign...
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 17 January 1885 at the Battle of Abu Klea
Battle of Abu Klea
The Battle of Abu Klea took place between the dates of 16 and 18 January 1885, at Abu Klea, Sudan, between the British Desert Column and Mahdist forces encamped near Abu Klea...
, Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, Gunner Smith saved a lieutenant who was being attacked by a native. The officer was superintending his gun at the time and had no weapon in his hand, but Gunner Smith, wielding the hand spike of his gun, warded off the thrust of the spear, giving the lieutenant time to draw his sword and bring the assailant to his knees. The latter, however, made a wild thrust at the officer with a long knife, which Gunner Smith again warded off, but not before the lieutenant was wounded. Gunner Smith then managed to kill the native before he could attack again.
In 1895 while working at the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich Smith was involved in an accident when his forearm was crushed by machinery.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
, England.
Gunner Smith's unit, 1 Battery, Southern Division, Royal Artillery, was later re-numbered 176 Battery
176 (Abu Klea) Battery Royal Artillery
176 Battery Royal Artillery is the junior currently-existent regular battery of the Royal Artillery. Its name is pronounced "One Seven Six", and the battery is commonly referred to as "The Abus", and its members as "Abus", after the battery's Honour Title. The battery is one of the sub-units of...
and still exists today. In 1955 it was awarded the honour title "Abu Klea" in recognition of Gunner Smith's VC.
External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (S.E. London)