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Issy Smith

Issy Smith
Smith (left) attending an Anzac Day parade in 1927. On the right is Stanley Gibbs, recipient of the Albert Medal.
Bornc. (1890-09-18)18 September 1890
Alexandria, Khedivate of Egypt
Died11 September 1940(1940-09-11) (aged 49)
Melbourne, Australia
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service
  • 1904–1912
  • 1914–1919
RankSergeant
Unit1st Battalion, The Manchester Regiment
Battles/wars
Awards

Issy Smith VC (c. 18 September 1890 – 11 September 1940)[2] was a British-Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to eligible forces of the Commonwealth and United Kingdom. In recognition of his VC, he was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre and Russian Cross of St. George (4th class) by the respective governments.

Born Ishroulch Shmeilowitz (and other renderings), to parents residing in Egypt, Smith travelled to Britain as a child stowaway and first volunteered to serve in the British Army in 1904. He emigrated to Australia after discharge, where he remained until mobilised as a reservist in 1914. As a corporal in the 1st Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, Smith was engaged in the Second Battle of Ypres. On 26 April 1915, Smith, on his own initiative, recovered wounded soldiers while exposed to sustained fire and attended to them "with the greatest devotion to duty regardless of personal risk".[3] His conduct secured a recommendation for the Victoria Cross, which was awarded to Smith in August 1915.[3]

After his demobilisation, Smith returned to Australia with his wife and daughter. He became a prominent figure in Melbourne's Jewish community, was appointed a Justice of the Peace, and unsuccessfully stood as a candidate for the United Australia Party in the 1931 general election.[4]

  1. ^ Issy Smith VC JP Archived 15 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine, diggerhistory.info. Accessed 4 September 2007.
  2. ^ Australian Dictionary of Biography. Other sources give different dates of birth and death (Dix Noonan Webb).
  3. ^ a b "No. 29272". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 August 1915. p. 8374.
  4. ^ The Times, 21 December 1931; p. 10; Issue 46011; col A.

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