A FOOTSTONE HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE GRAVE OF CORPORAL PHILIP SMITH VC, 17TH REGIMENT, ( ROYAL LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT ), IN GLASNEVIN CEMETERY, DUBLIN.
29th November 2003



On Saturday, 29th November 2003, five generations of the Smith family joined veterans from the Royal Leicestershire Regimental Association in an emotional service to place a footstone at the graveside of Corporal ( Lance-Sergeant ) Philip Smith VC in Dublin's Glasnevin Cemetery.

The relatives included Smith's grand-daughter, originally from Ireland now living in Bedford, a great-grandson, and the youngest a great-great-granddaughter. The short service was followed by a reception at the official home of the British Embassy's military attachee.

Major General Tony Pollard, president of the Royal Leicestershire Regiment Association, said Philip Smith's heroic action at Sebastopol would be one of the key parts of a new museum dedicated to the Royal Leicestershire Regiment at Leicester's Newarke Houses. Philip Smith's Victoria Cross medal group is held by the Regimental Museum.

Philip Smith was born in July 1829 at Lurgan, Virginia, Co Cavan, and following his service career returned to Ireland and died on 16 January 1906, aged 80, at Our Lady's Hospice, Dublin, of bronchitis and pneumonia. He was buried in Dublin's 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 stone.

For the award of the Victoria Cross.

[ London Gazette, 24 February 1857 ], Sebastopol ( The Great Redan ), Crimea, 18 June 1855, Corporal ( Lance-Sergeant ) Philip Smith, 17th Regiment ( Royal Leicestershire Regiment ).

For repeatedly going out in front of the advanced trenches against the Great Redan under heavy fire, after the column had retired from the assault, and bringing in wounded comrades.

Philip Smith was invested with his Victoria Cross by Brigadier General Sir Charles Trollope in Canada on the 1st August 1857.

Medal entitlement of Corporal Philip Smith - 17th Regiment

  • Victoria Cross
  • Crimea Medal ( 1854-56 )
    • 1 clasp:
    • "Sebastopol"
  • Medaille Militaire ( France )
  • Turkish Crimea Medal ( 1855-56 )

News

Go to VC UK flag Home Page

Iain Stewart, 29 November 2003