Alfred Victor Smith

2025-05-22T09:47:13Z

2A02:8012:227B:0:4404:9B22:DC5C:CC27: - Category:British police officers + Category:Officers in English police forces

{{short description|Recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Alfred Victor Smith
|birth_date=22 July 1891
|death_date=22 December 1915 (aged 24)
|birth_place=[[Guildford]], [[Surrey]], England
|death_place=[[Cape Helles]], [[Gallipoli]], [[Ottoman Turkey]]
|placeofburial=[[Twelve Tree Copse Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery]]
|image=AlfredVictorSmithVC.jpg
|caption=
|nickname=
|allegiance={{flag|United Kingdom}}
|serviceyears=1914–1915
|rank=[[Second lieutenant#United Kingdom|Second Lieutenant]]
|branch={{army|United Kingdom}}
|commands=
|unit=[[East Lancashire Regiment]]
|battles=[[World War I]]
*[[Gallipoli campaign]]{{KIA}}
|awards=[[Victoria Cross]]<br />[[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de Guerre]] (France)
|laterwork=[[Police officer]]
}}
[[Second lieutenant#United Kingdom|Second Lieutenant]] '''Alfred Victor Smith''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (22 July 1891 – 22 December 1915), known to his family as Victor,<ref>{{cite web|title=Commemorative stone unveiled|url=http://experienceguildford.co.uk/news-article.php?newsid=245|publisher=experienceguildford.co.uk|publication-date=12 November 2018|access-date=14 November 2019}}</ref> was a [[British Army]] officer and an [[England|English]] recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]] (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.

Smith was 24 years old, and a [[Second lieutenant#United Kingdom|Second lieutenant]] in the 1/5th Battalion, [[East Lancashire Regiment]], [[British Army]] on 22 December 1915 at [[Cape Helles|Helles]], [[Gallipoli]], [[Ottoman Turkey]] during the [[World War I|First World War]], and who died in action for which he was awarded the VC. His citation reads:{{Quote|For most conspicuous bravery. He was in the act of throwing a grenade when it slipped from his hand and fell to the bottom of the trench close to several officers and men. He immediately shouted a warning and jumped clear to safety. He then saw that the officers and men were unable to find cover and knowing that the grenade was due to explode at any moment, he returned and flung himself upon it. He was instantly killed by the explosion. His magnificent act of self-sacrifice undoubtedly saved many lives.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29496|page=2349|date=3 March 1916}}</ref>}}

He is buried in [[Twelve Tree Copse Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery|Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery]] in the Gallipoli peninsula, although the precise location of his grave within the cemetery is not known.<ref>[http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/603567 extract from the London Gazette, 3 March 1916] Commonwealth War Graves Commission</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.diggerhistory2.info/graveyards/pages/helles/helles04a-12tree.htm | title = Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery | work = Digger History | access-date = 1 October 2006 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070303083246/http://www.diggerhistory2.info/graveyards/pages/helles/helles04a-12tree.htm | archive-date = 3 March 2007 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> He was also awarded a French [[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de Guerre]].

Alfred Victor Smith’s father was a [[Police officer]] and although Alfred was born in [[Guildford]], the family moved several times in his youth, and Alfred sang as a boy [[chorister]] in [[St Albans Cathedral Choir]]. At 14 his father was appointed chief constable of [[Burnley]], and they moved to the town, with Alfred completing his education at [[Burnley Grammar School]]. After leaving school he joined [[Blackpool]] Borough Police force.<ref>{{cite news |author=Dominic Collis |title=Burnley war hero remembered |url=http://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/local/burnley-war-hero-remembered-1-7568013 |publisher=Johnston Press |newspaper=Burnley Express |date=12 November 2015 |access-date=13 February 2016 |archive-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217061830/http://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/local/burnley-war-hero-remembered-1-7568013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He is named on commemorative plaques within the former Burnley Grammar School, [[Places of worship in Burnley#St Catherine’s|St Catherine's Church, Burnley]], [[St Albans Cathedral]], and the current Blackpool Police headquarters.

In November 2015 a commemorative stone was unveiled in Guildford.<ref>{{cite web|title=Commemorative stone unveiled|url=http://www.guildford.gov.uk/newsandinformationreleases?faqdetailid=15204&inplace=true|website=Guildford Borough Council|access-date=16 November 2015}}</ref>

His VC, along with other items, is on display at the [[Towneley Hall]] museum in [[Burnley]].

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|last=Snelling|first=Stephen|title=Gallipoli|series=[[VCs of the First World War]]|orig-date=1995|year=2012|publisher=[[The History Press]]|isbn=978-0752456539}}

{{Duke of Lancaster's Regiment}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Alfred Victor}}
[[Category:1891 births]]
[[Category:1915 deaths]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Guildford]]
[[Category:People educated at Burnley Grammar School]]
[[Category:Officers in English police forces]]
[[Category:East Lancashire Regiment officers]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:British Gallipoli campaign recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British military personnel killed in World War I]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)]]
[[Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:Burials at Twelve Tree Copse Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery]]
[[Category:Deaths by hand grenade]]
[[Category:Territorial Force officers]]

Charles Hull (VC)

2025-05-22T09:24:34Z

2A02:8012:227B:0:4404:9B22:DC5C:CC27: - Category:British police officers + Category:Officers in English police forces

{{Short description|English recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
{{About|a military award winner|the British General of World War I|Charles Hull (British Army officer)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox military person
|name= Charles Hull
|birth_date=24 July 1890
|death_date=13 February 1953
|birth_place=[[Harrogate]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], England
|death_place= [[Leeds]], [[West Yorkshire]]
|placeofburial=[[Woodhouse Cemetery|Woodhouse Lane Cemetery]], Leeds
|image= File:Charles Hull VC.png
|image_size=160
|caption=
|nickname=
|allegiance={{UK}}
|serviceyears=1907 - 1919
|rank=[[Corporal]]
|branch=[[File:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]]
|commands=
|unit=[[21st Lancers]]
|battles=[[World War I]]
|awards= [[Victoria Cross]]<br />[[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de Guerre]]
|laterwork=Police officer
}}
'''Charles Hull''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (24 July 1890 – 13 February 1953) was an [[English people|English]] recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces during the [[First World War]].

==Details==
Hull worked as a postman in [[Harrogate]] before enlisting in the [[21st Lancers|21st Lancers (Empress of India's)]] in 1907, where he was a shoeing-smith making and fitting horseshoes.<ref>{{cite news|title=A postman, a farmer, a teacher ... meet the seven heroes from York and North Yorkshire who won the Victoria Cross in the First World War|url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/13924435.The_Magnificent_Seven__meet_the_local_heroes_who_won_the_VC_in_WW1/|accessdate=3 June 2017|work=York Press|date=30 October 2015}}</ref>

On 5 September 1915 Hull was a 25-years-old [[Private (rank)|private]] when he rescued an officer from certain death at the hands of tribesmen at Hafiz Kor on the [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–1955)|North West Frontier]] of [[British India]], an action for which he was awarded the VC. The citation was published in the [[The London Gazette|London Gazette]] on 3 March 1916 and read:

{{Blockquote|"1053 Private (Shoeing-Smith) Charles Hull, 21st Lancers.
For most conspicuous bravery. When under close fire of the enemy, who were within a few yards, he rescued Captain G. E. D. Learoyd, whose horse had been shot, by taking him up behind him and galloping into safety. Shoeing-Smith Hull acted entirely on his own initiative, and saved his officer's life at the imminent risk of his own."<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29496|page=2349|date=3 March 1916}}</ref>}}

He later achieved the rank of [[corporal]]. After the war he joined Leeds Constabulary and rose to the rank of [[sergeant]]. Hull is buried in [[Woodhouse Cemetery]], Leeds.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/605643?selection=Leeds%20General%20Cemetery%20Burial%20Registers%20Index |title=Register of Burials in Leeds General Cemetery at Woodhouse |page=78 |volume=MS 421/3/1/25 }}</ref>

==The Medal==
His VC is on display in [[The Royal Lancers and Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Museum]] in [[Thoresby Hall]], [[Nottinghamshire]].

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|last=Gliddon|first=Gerald|year=2005|title=The Sideshows|series=[[VCs of the First World War]]|location=Gloucestershire, England|publisher=Sutton Publishing|isbn=978-0-7509-2084-1}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.harrogatepeopleandplaces.info/ww1/soldiers/h/hull-charles.htm Harrogate People]
* [http://somerset.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/harrogate/remembrance/harrogate's-forgotten-heroes British Legion]{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110514041055/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/yorkshir.htm Location of grave and VC medal] ''(West Yorkshire)''
* [https://victoriacrossonline.co.uk/charles-hull-vc/ VC online biography]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hull, Charles}}
[[Category:1890 births]]
[[Category:1953 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Harrogate]]
[[Category:Military personnel from North Yorkshire]]
[[Category:21st Lancers soldiers]]
[[Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)]]
[[Category:Officers in English police forces]]
[[Category:Burials in West Yorkshire]]

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Alfred Victor Smith

Charles Hull (VC)