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Lot 537:
Not sold
Description
J G Smyth VC Won Victoria Cross 1915 in France. Piece Size 3 by 2 inches Personally Signed by J G Smyth VC Won Victoria Cross 1915 in France. After Repton, Jackie trained at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst 1911-1912 and played regularly for the Hockey and Soccer XIs and received his “Blue” for revolver shooting. He also won the Military History Prize and was commissioned on 24th August 1912 and sailed for India on the troopship Plassy in September, where he was attached to 1st Yorkshire at Sialkot. He transferred to 15th Ludhiana Sikhs on 5th November 1913 at Loralai, Baluchistan. When war broke out, the Battalion marched to Karachi, before sailing for Europe, arriving in Marseilles in September 1914. Jackie was promoted to Lieutenant on 24th November 1914 and the Battalion trained and acclimatised at Orleans before moving into the line at Richebourg, Festubert and Givenchy areas. Jackie was extremely lucky when an exploding minenwerfer buried him alive. He was dug out but was left with a hearing problem which affected him for the rest of his life. He also had a cigarette shot from out of his mouth at Windy Corner and a piece of shrapnel cut his neck on another occasion. Early in 1915 he was appointed Aide de Camp to Brigadier General Strickland, commanding the Jullundur Brigade, but returned to his Battalion when the Adjutant became a casualty. He was appointed Adjutant before the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915. In actions near Richebourg L’Avoue, Frnace, on May 18th, 1915, Lieutenant Smyth with a bombing party of 10 men, voluntarily undertook the duty, to supply ammunitions to comrades within 20 yards of the enemy’s position. After the attempts of two other parties had failed, with eight having been killed or wounded, he succeeded in taking the munitions to the desired position with the aid of his last two men. Jackie was gazetted for the VC on 29th June 1915, and received the medal on 12th July 1915 at Buckingham Palace from King George V. He was also awarded the Russian Order of St George, 4th Class on 25th August 1915. The Battalion then moved to Egypt, landing at Ismailia in August 1915. In November it moved to Mersah Matruh by armed trawlers to take part in the Senussi Campaign in the Western Desert. The Battalion returned to India in February 1916 for duty on the North West Frontier. He was promoted to Captain and took part in the Mohmand Blockade on the North West Frontier from October to December 1916. He passed out at the top of the Staff School at Saugor in January 1918 and was appointed acting major on 20th June 1918 and Brigade Major of the Bombay-Deolali Brigade. Later he was Brigade Major of 43rd Indian Brigade at Lahore. On 21st October 1919 a convoy was attacked by a party of Mahsuds. He set off with 300 men of 9th Jats in Ford vans, supported by two armoured cars. They arrived within two hours. While the infantry got behind the Mahsuds, Jackie drove the armoured cars straight at them. The Mahsuds retreated. He was awarded the Military Cross for this action (LG 27th September 1920). It was also this action which saw the award of a posthumous VC to Henry Andrews. Details enclosed. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
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