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Rank : Corporal (Lance Sergeant)

Unit : 17th Foot

Biography :

Born in Lurgan, Virginia, Co. Cavan, Ireland in 1829, Philip Smith enlisted on 12.5.1847, aged 17, during the Potato Famine, and gave his occupation as labourer . Serving with 17th Regiment in Gibraltar and then the Crimea, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for repeatedly going out in front of the trenches against the Great Redan on the 18.6.1855 --- The picture shown, 'PHILIP SMITH VC' painted by Terence Cuneo represents the action when the Regiment's first Victoria Cross was won, by Corporal (Lance Sergeant) Philip Smith, The 17th Regiment. ----

The Victoria Cross was introduced during the Crimean War as the foremost award for exceptional gallantry. Queen Victoria ordered that it should be simple in design and made out of bronze cannon captured from the Russians. Philip Smith won his VC at Sevastopol 'For repeatedly going out in front of the advanced trenches against the Great Redan, on the 18th June 1855, under a very heavy fire, after the column had retired from the assault and bringing in wounded comrades' (London Gazette, 24.2.1857).
He completed his military service on 30.9.1868 and returned to his native Ireland. He was an In-Pensioner in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainan, from 1.10.1871 to 1.6.1876, 1.12.1881 to 1.2.1883. and 1903. Son of Thomas Smith and mother unknown. Smith died of bronchitis and pneumonia on 16.1.1906, aged 80 years, at Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold's Cross, Dublin. He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery in a burial plot purchased by his son-in-law, John Scully, one-time High Sheriff of Dublin. Therefore, Smith’s name was not included on the headstone. On 29.11.2003, five generations of the Smith family and representatives of the Royal Leicestershire Regimental Association attended a service in Glasnevin Cemetery to place a footstone at the graveside of Corporal Smith. Smith’s medal group is held by the Royal Leicestershire Regiment and replicas of his medal group are displayed in the Regimental Museum at Newarke House, Leicester.

In addition to the V.C. he was also awarded the Crimean Medal with Clasp for Sevastopol, the Turkish Crimean Medal, and the French Medaille Militaire.

Residence in Royal Hospital, Kilmainan - was an In-Pensioner from 1.10.1871 to 1.6.1876, 1.12.1881 to 1.2.1883. and 1903. Son of Thomas Smith and mother unknown.

There is more on him at http://www.victoriacrossonline.co.uk/philip-smith-vc/4588266511

Date of Birth : c. 1829

Place of Birth : Lurgan, Virginia, Co Cavan, Ireland

Date of Death : 16.1.1906

Place of Death : Dublin, Ireland.

Civil Occupation : Labourer

Period of Service : 1847-1868

Conflicts : Crimean War

Places Served : Gibraltar, Crimea, Montreal, Canada