308:, Smith while in command of a platoon, took a machine-gun post at The Lozenge (Hill 140), rushing the garrison with his rifle and bayonet. The enemy on seeing him coming, scattered to throw hand grenades at him, but heedless of all danger and almost without halting in his rush, he shot at least six of them. Later, seeing another platoon needing assistance, he led his men to them, took command and captured the objective. During an enemy counter-attack the following day he led a section forward and restored a portion of the line. According to
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Area of France to examine points in the German lines where information was required. As the patrol was about to retire, he saw a party of about 40 Germans about to take up outpost duty. Despite being heavily outnumbered by the German soldiers, Smith led his small party of men and engaged the enemy,
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Sergeant Smith is not only a VC but looks it. He is a
British soldier every inch of him. He is an A1 man from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. ... He has not only won the VC but he has a chest on which to display
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after the war in 1919, he was greeted by a cheering crowd of 6,000 people, equivalent to the town's total population at the time. Another local newspaper described Smith in the following terms:
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Supplement of 18 October 1918, "His personal bravery, skill and initiative were outstanding, and his conduct throughout an inspiring example to all."
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and quartermaster when he died in France from a gunshot wound in the head on 12 January 1940, just under four months before the start of the
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As war loomed in summer 1939, he re-enlisted with his former
Regiment, the Lancashire Fusiliers, and was among the first contingent of the
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He continued serving, from 1918 to 1938, in China, Malaya and
Ireland, before retiring with an Army pension having attained the rank of
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of the United
Kingdom for Victoria Cross holders, as the youngest recipient present. He never married.
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He is unusual in having gained both the DCM and VC, and in quick succession, during the
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breaking up the German party and causing severe casualties. As well as receiving the
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Eleven days later, during the period 21/23 August 1918, east of
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449:(London, England), Tuesday, 16 Jan 1940; p. 6; Issue 48514
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VCs of the North: Cumbria, Durham & Northumberland
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British World War I recipients of the
Victoria Cross
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385:cemetery of Beuvry Communal Cemetery Extension.
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977:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross
967:Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal
962:British Army personnel killed in World War II
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436:(Supplement). 18 October 1918. p. 12488.
415:The 42nd (East Lancashire) Division 1914-1918
215:Mother Martha Benn Father Charles Henry Smith
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350:In 1921, he attended a Garden Party held at
231:(10 November 1898 – 12 January 1940) was an
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275:, Smith was leading a daylight patrol near
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19:For other people named Edward Smith, see
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95:Beuvry Communal Cemetery Extension
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381:in May. Smith is buried at the
16:Recipient of the Victoria Cross
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957:Lancashire Fusiliers officers
952:Lancashire Fusiliers soldiers
21:Edward Smith (disambiguation)
347:in London for about a year.
982:Deaths by firearm in France
619:Royal Warwickshire Regiment
597:Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
368:British Expeditionary Force
286:Distinguished Conduct Medal
263:Distinguished Conduct Medal
206:Distinguished Conduct Medal
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480:VCs of the First World War
271:with the 1/5th Battalion,
267:On 10 August 1918, then a
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474:Gliddon, Gerald (2014) .
341:Regimental Sergeant Major
222:Edward Benn ('Ned') Smith
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911:Francis Arthur Jefferson
806:Charles Graham Robertson
796:Frederick William Palmer
501:Whitworth, Alan (2015).
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871:Bernard Matthew Cassidy
846:William Stephen Kenealy
906:James Neville Marshall
841:Alfred Joseph Richards
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741:Neville Elliott-Cooper
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257:Hundred Days Offensive
179:Hundred Days Offensive
811:Walter Napleton Stone
731:Thomas Elsdon Ashford
706:Robert Edwin Phillips
413:Frederick P. Gibbon.
343:. He then joined the
140:Years of service
972:People from Maryport
861:Bertram Best-Dunkley
766:Henry Mitchell Jones
746:Charles FitzClarence
716:Julian Royds Gribble
656:James Bulmer Johnson
635:Lancashire Fusiliers
476:Road to Victory 1918
370:to sail for France.
273:Lancashire Fusiliers
164:Lancashire Fusiliers
826:Frank Edward Stubbs
751:Thomas Egerton Hale
507:Pen and Sword Books
324:The Whitehaven News
891:Harold John Colley
433:The London Gazette
311:The London Gazette
992:Burials in France
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235:recipient of the
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676:Thomas Bryan
671:Ernest Sykes
604:Predecessors
555:. Retrieved
552:Find a Grave
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932:1940 deaths
721:Arthur Hutt
638:(1688–1968)
630:(1685–1968)
622:(1685–1968)
614:(1674–1968)
557:3 September
428:"No. 30967"
251:World War I
926:Categories
771:Robert Gee
696:Jack Youll
459:CWGC entry
375:Lieutenant
154:Lieutenant
102:Allegiance
64:Cumberland
53:1898-11-10
851:John Lynn
447:The Times
373:He was a
277:HĂ©buterne
212:Relations
145:1939–1940
143:1918–1938
356:George V
354:by King
328:Maryport
318:Interwar
269:Corporal
247:forces.
120:Service/
60:Maryport
279:in the
241:British
233:English
190:†
80:Bucquoy
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306:France
198:Awards
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122:branch
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90:Buried
84:France
389:Notes
302:Serre
281:Somme
559:2010
511:ISBN
488:ISBN
243:and
160:Unit
150:Rank
70:Died
47:Born
335:it.
229:DCM
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51:(
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