Victoria Cross & VC

cross patté (described in the Royal Warrant as a 'Maltese cross of bronze') having at its centre a crown surmounted by 'lion gardant'; beneath the crown an ornamentally draped scroll bearing the motto: 'FOR VALOUR'. Raised borders outline the shape of the cross. The plain reverse bears a central circle (with raised edge) to enclose the date of the act of gallantry. The suspension bar comprises a straight laurelled bar with integral 'V' lug; the plain reverse of the suspension bar is engraved with details of the recipient. The 1½-inch wide ribbon is crimson. The presence of a straight laurelled Bar (in the same form as the suspension bar but without the 'V' lug) indicates a subsequent award. [Note: originally the ribbon was dark blue for Royal Navy recipients and crimson (described as 'red' in the Warrants) for the Army. After the formation of the Royal Air Force (1 April 1918) the crimson ribbon (sometimes described as 'claret', 'maroon' or 'dark red', was adopted for all recipients. When present, a straight laurelled Bar (in the same form as the suspension bar but without the 'V' lug) indicates a subsequent award.]

Biographical note (recipient): John George Smyth, born 24 October 1893. Commissioned 1912. 1914-15 saw service on the Western Front. Late 1915 transferred to Western Egypt to take part in the Senussi Campaign. Mentioned in despatches and received the Russian Order of St George. Later sent to India with the Mohmand Expedition. Served in the Afghan War 1919-20, mentioned in dispatches and won MC. Served in Mesopotamia during the insurrection of 1920-21, on the North West Frontier 1930 and the Mohmand Operations of 1935. 1931-34 instructor at the Staff College, Camberley. 1936-39 Commandant of the 45th Rattray's Sikhs. 1939 went to France in command of 127 Infantry Brigade. After being evacuated at Dunkirk was involved in training and re-equipping the Army. 1941 went to India and raised 19 (Dagger) Division. December 1941, after the Japanese invasion of Lower Burma, transferred to command of 17 Division. 1942 in charge of forces defending Tennaserim. Contracted severe illness and in November 1942 retired from the Army. 1943-46 military correspondent to The Sunday Times and Daily Sketch. 1946-51 lawn tennis correspondent of The Sunday Times. In the 1945 election he contested Wandsworth against Ernest Bevin and was defeated. 1950 won the Norwood division of Lambeth. Appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions. 1953 Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the amalgamated Ministries of Pensions and National Insurance. 1955 was made a Baronet. He was first vice-chairman of the Allied Circle and a member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs and British Prisoner of War Association. Founder of the Victoria Cross Association, now the VC and GC Association. His autobiography "The Only Enemy" appeared in 1959. He died 26 April 1983.

Association - event: won the VC "when he was the only survivor of a party of 10 men from a company of the 15th Sikhs, who had to relieve a difficult situation on the right of the Indian Army Corps front, in a forward section of trench known as the 'Glory Hole' near the Ferme du Bois. His party had to cover 250 yards of open ground with two boxes of bombs. The only shelter was an old trench filled with the dead bodies of Highland Light Infantry, Worcesters, Indians and Germans. The party wriggled over these dead bodies with the bombs, all being killed except Smyth and Sepoy Lal Singh, who reached their objective having had to abandon one box of bombs. Shortly after reaching the trench Lal Singh was also killed. Smyth was awarded the VC and the rest of the bombing party received posthumously the Indian Distinguished Service Medal (The Times obituary, 27 April 1983)

Association - related items: one of a bar of 16 court-mounted medals OMD 2718-2733. Miniatures are in the possession of the family

Reference : (obituary) : 27/4/1983 : Brigadier Sir John Smyth, VC : (The) Times: (London Gazette) 29/6/1915

LIEUT.J.G.SMYTH.15th.LUDHIANA SIKHS.INDIAN ARMY

18.MAY.1915