NOTE: Direct relatives of Phillip Smith contacted me (April 2014) and have advised that at no time did Phillip have or use the name Felix, as noted below and in many references, apparently in error. In addition, the place of birth was not in Armagh county but at Lurgan, Virginia, County Cavan in Ireland. They further note that while orders came from Montreal to Quebec, it was at Quebec where Smith's regiment was stationed and at the Citadel there... not Montreal, were his Victoria Cross was presented.
Thus this correction above my original blog. Sorry to all for these mistakes and thanks to the family for helping me to get this correct.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and now the original blog.........
There is no shortage of reference materials telling us of the bravery of Toronto born Lt Alexander Roberts Dunn of Crimean War fame. The 6 ft. 3 inch officer was so tall Wilkinson's had to make a special sword for him. And that sword was used to rescue both a Sergeant and a Private during the Charge of the Light Brigade in October of 1854. Many have heard the poem about the charge... "cannon to the right of them, cannon to the left of them, cannon in front of them." The battle was a slaughter for the Brits with some 673 officers and men charging down a "Valley of Death" and by the time it was all over only 195 returned. Lt Dunn was the only officer in the battle to earn the Victoria Cross and it was presented to him by Queen Victoria at the very first awarding of crosses to about 60 recipients on 26 June 1855 in London. There will be much more in a later blog about Lt. Dunn.
This was Canada's first VC. But it was not the first to come INTO Canada.
That honour rests with Felix.
Thus this correction above my original blog. Sorry to all for these mistakes and thanks to the family for helping me to get this correct.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and now the original blog.........
There is no shortage of reference materials telling us of the bravery of Toronto born Lt Alexander Roberts Dunn of Crimean War fame. The 6 ft. 3 inch officer was so tall Wilkinson's had to make a special sword for him. And that sword was used to rescue both a Sergeant and a Private during the Charge of the Light Brigade in October of 1854. Many have heard the poem about the charge... "cannon to the right of them, cannon to the left of them, cannon in front of them." The battle was a slaughter for the Brits with some 673 officers and men charging down a "Valley of Death" and by the time it was all over only 195 returned. Lt Dunn was the only officer in the battle to earn the Victoria Cross and it was presented to him by Queen Victoria at the very first awarding of crosses to about 60 recipients on 26 June 1855 in London. There will be much more in a later blog about Lt. Dunn.
This was Canada's first VC. But it was not the first to come INTO Canada.
That honour rests with Felix.
Perhaps better known as Cpl Phillip Felix Smith, this Dublin born soldier served in a British unit known as the 17th Infantry, aka the Royal Leicestershire Regiment. They did battle at the attack of the famous Redan at Sebastopol on 18 June 1855.
(UPDATE).. claims have come forth claiming that he was born at the townsland of Lurgan in either Armagh or Cavan county, as noted in the 2 comments below.)
The uniform button of Smith's unit, pictured here, is made out of pewter. The unit's brass cap #17 and the button were recently found on the very battlefield of so long ago.
Smith's Regiment and others were forced to advance in an ill-advised attempt at taking the redan (fortification). The Russians had previously learned that the British were coming, and the Brits wanted to wait for reinforcements that were delayed. But pressures forced then to dive into a bloody bath of wounded and dead as they vacated their trenches and tried to move forward. The unit was driven back but Smith and two others remained behind to help save wounded. Smith was reported to have made several trips under very heavy fire to save these soles. He and the two others would later be awarded the Victoria Cross.
On the very day that Alexander Dunn became the 17th soldier in history to be presented with his Victoria Cross, Felix was supposed to be on parade for his presentation, but he was off on military duty in a place called Montreal, Canada.
His unit had been posted to duties there after the Crimean War and that is where he was on service whilst the first VC parade and presentation took place in London. But all was not lost. Queen Victoria ordered that all recipients who were away on military service were to have the most formal of parades wherever they were and that the top commanders attend and present the hero with his Victoria Cross.
(UPDATE).. claims have come forth claiming that he was born at the townsland of Lurgan in either Armagh or Cavan county, as noted in the 2 comments below.)
The uniform button of Smith's unit, pictured here, is made out of pewter. The unit's brass cap #17 and the button were recently found on the very battlefield of so long ago.
Smith's Regiment and others were forced to advance in an ill-advised attempt at taking the redan (fortification). The Russians had previously learned that the British were coming, and the Brits wanted to wait for reinforcements that were delayed. But pressures forced then to dive into a bloody bath of wounded and dead as they vacated their trenches and tried to move forward. The unit was driven back but Smith and two others remained behind to help save wounded. Smith was reported to have made several trips under very heavy fire to save these soles. He and the two others would later be awarded the Victoria Cross.
On the very day that Alexander Dunn became the 17th soldier in history to be presented with his Victoria Cross, Felix was supposed to be on parade for his presentation, but he was off on military duty in a place called Montreal, Canada.
His unit had been posted to duties there after the Crimean War and that is where he was on service whilst the first VC parade and presentation took place in London. But all was not lost. Queen Victoria ordered that all recipients who were away on military service were to have the most formal of parades wherever they were and that the top commanders attend and present the hero with his Victoria Cross.
Above is the actual London Gazette entry of 24 Feb., 1857 announcing that Smith had been awarded the Victoria Cross.
On August 1 1857 Major General Trollope C. B. rode into Barrack Square at the Montreal Citadel, had the troops of the garrison formed into a hollow square with him and his staff in the center and ordered Sgt Smith... " Front and Center."
No doubt the Cpl. marched out quite smartly, halted and gave a salute, The general then read from his notes and said... "The Lt. General commanding having received the decoration of the Victoria Cross which Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to confer on Corporal Phillip Smith, 17th Regiment, to commemorate the act of bravery performed by him in the late war; as recorded of him in the supplement of the London Gazette of the 24th February 1857, desires that this distinguishing mark of her majesty's approbation will be presented to Corporal Phillip Smith, 17th Regiment, by Major General Trollope, on the first fitting occasion, in the presence of the garrison of Quebec.
A communication was also read by the general from Lord Palmer who expressed the Queen's regret at not having the possibility of bestowing the medal herself on the man's chest.
Trollope then dismounted and pinned the medal of Smith's uniform. Further speeches were made and then Smith was placed at the head of his regiment just behind its Colonel for a march past and saluting of General Trollope.
Smith would return home and continue service and finally died on 16 January 1906. In two days it will be the 107th anniversary of his death. History has recorded that his Victoria Cross was the first to ever come into the country, though most standard references do not mention it.
At Halifax today there is a very prominent monument, to Crimean heroes Parker and Welesford who also fought with other Canadians at Sabastopol. Both officers died in battle trying to scale the redan. One was decapitated in the process. That monument may well be the only Crimean memorial in Canada.
Bart
Trollope then dismounted and pinned the medal of Smith's uniform. Further speeches were made and then Smith was placed at the head of his regiment just behind its Colonel for a march past and saluting of General Trollope.
Smith would return home and continue service and finally died on 16 January 1906. In two days it will be the 107th anniversary of his death. History has recorded that his Victoria Cross was the first to ever come into the country, though most standard references do not mention it.
At Halifax today there is a very prominent monument, to Crimean heroes Parker and Welesford who also fought with other Canadians at Sabastopol. Both officers died in battle trying to scale the redan. One was decapitated in the process. That monument may well be the only Crimean memorial in Canada.
Bart
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