John Smith

He fought through a guarded gateway and stayed after wounds.

John Smith was born in the St Luke's district of London in 1822. He enlisted in the East India Company's forces in 1841 and served with the 1st Madras European Fusiliers. His military life was spent in India, where the regiment became involved in the operations to relieve Lucknow in 1857.

On 16 November 1857, during the attack on the Secunderabagh, Smith was among the first men attempting to enter its northern gateway. When the entrance was forced, he went inside and was surrounded by defenders.

He suffered a sword cut to the head, a bayonet wound in the side and a blow to his shoulder. Despite these injuries, he fought his way out and remained on duty for the rest of the day. His fellow soldiers elected him for the Victoria Cross. The assault on the enclosure formed part of the intense fighting through the defended positions around Lucknow.

He received the cross in India in 1859. His service in the same campaign was commemorated by the Indian Mutiny Medal with the Relief of Lucknow clasp. He remained connected with the regiment until taking a local discharge on pension in 1861.

Smith stayed in India after leaving the army. He died at Tanjore on 6 May 1866 and was buried there the same day in an unmarked grave.

His army career had lasted about twenty years before his pensioned discharge. He remained far from the London neighbourhood where he had been born, and his final years were spent in the country where he had served as a private.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For having been one of the first to try and enter the gateway on the north side of the Secundra Bagh. On the gateway being burst open, he was one of the first to enter, and was surrounded by the enemy. He received a sword-cut on the head, a bayonet wound on the left side, and a contusion from the butt end of a musket on the right shoulder, notwithstanding which he fought his way out, and continued to perform his duties for the rest of the day. Elected by the private soldiers of the detachment, 1st Madras Fusiliers.

The London Gazette of 24 December 1858, Numb. 22212, p. 5515