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Victoria Cross, Sgt James Smith, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), 1897
Victoria Cross, gallantry award
Accession Number

NAM.2001-02-432-1

Description

Victoria Cross, 1897. From a medal group awarded to 4288 Sgt James Smith, 1st Bn, The Buffs Regiment, for his actions, whilst a Corporal in The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) during the Mohmand Campaign, North West Frontier India 16-17 Sep 1897. From the collection of the former Buffs Regimental Museum. One of a group answering a call for volunteers, Smith followed two Royal Engineer officers, Lt James Morris Colquhoun Colvin VC and Lt Thomas Colclough Watson VC, to the village of Bilot, Mamund Valley, in an attempt to dislodge the enemy. Despite being wounded Smith continued to fight, evacuate the wounded and hold the position until the return of the officer who had gone for help. Sgt Smith was born in 1871 and died in Kent on 18th March 1946.

Campaigns

India, North West Frontier, Malakand Field Force (1897-1898)

Events

Bilot, Action at, 1897 (India, North West Frontier, Mohmand Expedition 1897)

Associated collection