Letter Signed by Sir John 'Jackie' Smyth VC. Awarded Victori...

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£40 - £50

Letter Signed by Sir John 'Jackie' Smyth VC. Awarded Victoria Cross in WW1. 2 Page handwritten Letter Dated 5 7 74 Personally Signed by Brigadier Sir John George Smyth, 1st Baronet, VC, MC. (24 October 1893 - 26 April 1983), often known as Jackie Smyth, was a British Indian Army officer and a Conservative member of Parliament. During WWII, he led a unit in France and during the evacuation of Dunkirk, and in the Burma campaign. Although a recipient of the Victoria Cross. After passing out from Sandhurst, Smyth was Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with the British Indian Army on 24 August 1912, [ and was commissioned into the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs on 5 November 1913. He was promoted to lieutenant on 24 November 1914, three months after the outbreak of the WW1. I the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, 3rd (Lahore ) Division, Indian Army during the First World War, when his actions earned him the Victoria Cross (VC). In June 1915, The citation for this award, published in the London Gazette read: For most conspicuous bravery near Richebourg L'Avoue on 18 May 1915. With a bombing party of 10 men, who voluntarily undertook this duty, he conveyed a supply of 96 bombs to within 20 yards of the enemy's position over exceptionally dangerous ground, after the attempts of two other parties had failed. Lieutenant Smyth succeeded in taking the bombs to the desired position with the aid of two of his men (the other eight having been killed or wounded), and to affect his purpose he had to swim a stream, being exposed the whole time to howitzer, Shrapnel, Machine Gun and rifle fire. As well as Smyth's VC, the Indian Distinguished Service Medal was posthumously awarded to the men killed during this incident. Smyth was also awarded the Russian Order of St George, Fourth Class, in 1915, and was promoted to Captain on 24 August 1916. Smyth continued his war service in Egypt and on the North-West Frontier. . Single Vendor autograph collection. 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