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	{{short description\|Recipient of the Victoria Cross (1914–1864)}}		{{short description\|Recipient of the Victoria Cross (1914–1864)}}
	{{Use British English\|date=November ~~2022~~}}		{{Use British English\|date=November 2013}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=March 2021}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=March 2021}}
	{{Infobox military person		{{Infobox military person

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{{short description|Recipient of the Victoria Cross (1914–1864)}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= John Smith
|birth_date=February 1814
|death_date= 26 June 1864 (aged 50)
|birth_place= [[Ticknall]], [[Derbyshire]]
|death_place=[[Jullundur]], [[British India]]
|placeofburial=Artillery Cemetery, Jullundur
|image=Victoria Cross Medal without Bar.png
|image_size=125
|caption=
|nickname=
|allegiance= {{UK}}
|serviceyears=
|rank=[[Ensign (rank)|Ensign]]
|branch=[[Bengal Army]]
|commands=
|unit=[[Bengal Sappers and Miners]]
|battles=[[First Anglo-Afghan War]]
* [[Battle of Jellalabad]]
* [[Kabul Expedition (1842)]]
[[First Anglo-Sikh War]]
[[Indian Mutiny]]
|awards= [[Victoria Cross]]
|laterwork=
}}
'''John Smith''' (February 1814 – 26 June 1864) 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 of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces. Born in Derbyshire in the United Kingdom, Smith enlisted in the army of the East India Company at the age of 23. Posted to India in 1839, Smith served through various campaigns, earning the Victoria Cross in 1857 at the [[Siege of Delhi]]. Smith died from dysentery in 1864.

== Life and career ==
Smith was born in Ashby Road, Ticknall, [[Derbyshire]], in February 1814.<ref name="derblife">{{cite web|title=Memorial plaque to Sgt John Smith VC of Ticknall|url=http://www.derbyshirelife.co.uk/out-about/events/memorial-plaque-to-sgt-john-smith-vc-of-ticknall-1-3662256|website=Derbyshire Life and Countryside|accessdate=27 May 2018|language=en}}</ref> After working as a [[cordwainer]] like his father and uncle,<ref name="Best">{{cite book|last1=Best|first1=Brian|title=The Victoria Crosses That Saved An Empire|date=2016|publisher=Frontline Books|location=Barnsley|isbn=9781473844766|pages=33–35}}</ref> Smith enlisted with the private army of the [[East India Company]] in London on 3 October 1837.<ref name="Raj">{{cite book|last1=De Rhé-Philipe|first1=George William|last2=Irving|first2=Miles|title=Soldiers of the Raj|date=1989|page=317|chapter=2|publisher=London Stamp Exchange|location=London|isbn=0948130776}}</ref> Following his training at the East India Company's depot in [[Chatham, Kent|Chatham]], Smith embarked for India.<ref name="Best" /> Arriving on 2 August 1839 Smith was posted to the [[Bengal Engineer Group|Bengal Sappers and Miners]], subsequently arriving at the headquarters in Delhi<ref name="Raj" /> then joining the 3rd Company of the Bengal Sappers and Miners.<ref name="Best" /> Smith was promoted to Sergeant in 1840.<ref name="Raj" />

Smith, then with the 5th Company of the Bengal Sappers and Miners in November 1841, served in a force under Brigadier Wild, taking part in the advance on [[Ali Masjid]] in the [[Khyber Pass]].<ref name="Raj" /> Smith then served throughout the 1842 campaign in Afghanistan, taking part in the successful storming of the Khyber Pass; the [[Battle of Jellalabad|occupation of Jelalabad]] and the [[Kabul Expedition (1842)|occupation of Kabul]].<ref name="Raj" /> Smith later rejoined the Headquarters of the Bengal Sappers and Miners at Delhi, and was shortly afterwards transferred to 7th Company, with whom he served in the later part of the Sutlej campaign.<ref name="Raj" /> Smith was present at the battle of Sobraon and was awarded a medal for this.<ref name="Raj" /> Posted to the 3rd Company, Smith served through the Punjab campaign in the [[Second Anglo-Sikh War]], being present at the siege and capture of Multan and battle of Gujerat. For this service Smith was awarded the [[Punjab Medal]] with two clasps.<ref name="Raj" />

Smith was posted in 1851 to work with the Superintending Engineer of the Punjab, in the Department of Public Works, as an Acting Assistant Overseer attached to the Mian Mir Division, eventually becoming an Assistant Overseer in 1854.<ref name="Raj" /> Smith was ordered to return to his regiment in 1856, and due to an error in the carrying out of this order Smith was mistakenly posted, at a reduced rank of [[Gunner (rank)|Gunner]], to the 3rd Company of the 4th Battalion of Bengal Artillery.<ref name="Raj" /> Smith successfully protested against the order, leading to its rescinding and Smith being sent back to the Bengal Sappers and Miners at his former rank of Sergeant.<ref name="Raj" />
Smith remained at the depot in Rurki until the outbreak of the [[Indian Mutiny]] in May 1857 when the a force from the Bengal Sappers and Miners were ordered to the immediate aid of the station at [[Meerut]].<ref name="Raj" /> The arrival of this force at Meerut on 13 May 1857 was met with hostility, and the Meerut authorities demanded that the Bengal Sappers and Miners be disarmed, leading to the mutiny of a large number of the force (killing their commanding officer in the process) which then left to join the rebels at Delhi, leaving 45 Non-commissioned Officers and Privates, and 124 loyal Indian sappers.<ref name="Best" /> After two weeks at Meerut, this group was ordered to join the Delhi Field Force, with Smith serving in operations through the siege.<ref name="Best" />

== Victoria Cross ==
[[File:Blowing up of the Cashmere Gate at Delhi, 14 Sept. 1857," steel engraving.jpg|thumb|Blowing up of the Cashmere Gate at Delhi, 14 Sept. 1857, steel engraving]]
Smith was 43 years old, and a [[sergeant]] in the [[Bengal Sappers and Miners]], [[Bengal Army]] during the [[Indian Mutiny]] when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 14 September 1857 at [[Delhi]], [[British India]], Sergeant Smith with two lieutenants ([[Duncan Charles Home]] and [[Philip Salkeld]]) and Bugler [[Robert Hawthorne]] showed conspicuous gallantry in the blowing in the Kashmir Gate in broad daylight under heavy fire. His citation reads:
{{quote|For conspicuous gallantry, in conjunction with Lieutenants Home and Salkeld, in the performance of the desperate duty of blowing in the Cashmere Gate of the fortress of Delhi in broad daylight, under a heavy and destructive fire of musketry, on the morning of 14 September 1857, preparatory to the assault.

(General Order of [[Major-General]] Sir [[Archdale Wilson]], Bart., K.C.B., dated "Head Quarters, Delhi City, September 21, 1857.")
<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22131|page=2051|date=27 April 1858}}</ref>}}

== Later career ==
Smith spent 1858 engaged in operations in Oudh and was awarded the [[Indian Mutiny Medal]] with "Delhi" clasp.<ref name="Raj" /> In July 1859 Smith was appointed Sub-Conductor and acting Barrack Master for Jullundur and Phillour.<ref name="Raj" /> Smith was promoted to [[Ensign (rank)#United Kingdom|Ensign]] on 17 March 1860.<ref name="Raj" /> and later served as Barrack Master at Peshawar, Subathu and Darjeeling, returning in January 1864 to general duties at [[Umballa|Amballa]].<ref name="Raj" />

While on leave in [[Jullundur]], Smith contracted [[dysentery]] there and died on 26 June 1864, following which he was buried in the Artillery Cemetery in Jullundur.<ref name="Raj" /> The location of Smith's Victoria Cross medal is unknown.<ref name="derblife" />

A memorial plaque commemorating Smith was placed on the wall of Ticknall Village Hall in 2014.<ref name="derblife" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11352490/john-smith Find A Grave entry for John Smith.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, John (Sergeant)}}
[[Category:British recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:1814 births]]
[[Category:1864 deaths]]
[[Category:British East India Company Army soldiers]]
[[Category:Bengal Sappers and Miners personnel]]
[[Category:People from Ticknall]]
[[Category:Indian Rebellion of 1857 recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British military personnel of the First Anglo-Afghan War]]
[[Category:British military personnel of the First Anglo-Sikh War]]
[[Category:Deaths from dysentery]]
[[Category:Infectious disease deaths in India]]

John Smith (sergeant) - Revision history

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