Orders, Decorations and Medals

A good campaign group of five to Gunner J. Smith, ‘Q’ Battery, Royal Horse Artlillery, later Royal Field Artillery, taken prisoner during the epic action at Sannah’s Post, and subsequently killed in action in 1915

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal, Wittebergen (9373 Gnr., Q. B., R.H.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (9373 Gnr., R.H.A.); 1914-15 Star (86704 Gnr., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (86704 Gnr., R.A.) first two with some contact wear and edge bruising, otherwise generally nearly very fine or better (5) £500-600

Gunner John Smith was taken prisoner of war during the epic action at Sannah’s Post on 31 March 1900, and was subsequently released. In this action ‘Q’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, lost two guns through no fault of their own. The battery behaved admirably, and their conduct was praised by Brigadier-General Broadwood in his report on the action. As a result Major Phipps-Hornby, Sergeant Parker, Gunner Lodge and Driver Glassock were each awarded the Victoria Cross for acts of magnificent heroism in saving the remaining guns.

During the Great War Smith, a native of Chippenham, Wiltshire re-enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery. He was killed in action in France and Flanders on 9 May 1915, whilst serving with the 459th Battery, 118th Brigade, R.F.A. At the time of his death he was 40 years old. His name is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France.