THE VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED TO PRIVATE JOHN THOMAS SMITH, 1ST MADRAS ( EUROPEAN ) FUSILIERS, AN INDIAN MUTINY AWARD, HAS BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY MORTON AND EDEN OF LONDON.
27 June 2016


( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of Private John Thomas Smith
1st Madras ( European ) Fusiliers

  • Victoria Cross
  • Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857 - 58 )
    • 2 clasps:
    • "Relief of Lucknow" - "Lucknow"


The Victoria Cross awarded to Private John Thomas Smith, 1st Madras ( European ) Fusiliers ( later the Royal Dublin Fusiliers ) has been sold at auction by the London auction house of Morton and Eden on the 27th June 2016. The estimated sale price was between £70,000 and £90,000.

The sale of the Victoria Cross realised a hammer price of £88,000. The identity of the purchaser has not been revealed.

In addition to his Victoria Cross John Smith was entitled to the Indian Mutiny Medal with 2 clasps, "Relief of Lucknow" and "Lucknow", which does not appear to have been offered on the market to date. Therefore, the Victoria Cross has only ever been known as a 'single' since its first known sale in 1924.

The John Smith Victoria Cross has previously been sold by Glendining's on 29 May 1924; Sotheby's on 26 January 1977; and Spink on 8 November 1994.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 24 December 1858 ], Secundra Bagh, Indian Mutiny, 16 November 1857, Private John Thomas Smith, 1st Madras ( European ) Fusiliers.

For having been one of the first to try and enter the gateway on the north side of the Secundra Bagh. On the gateway being burst open, he was one of the first to enter, and was surrounded by the enemy. He received a sword-cut on the head, a bayonet wound on the left side, and a contusion from the butt end of a musket on the right shoulder, notwithstanding which he fought his way out, and continued to perform his duties for the rest of the day.

John Smith was invested with his Victoria Cross in India in 1859, but by whom and where is not known.


John Smith died, probably from cholera, on the 6th May 1866 and was buried in an unmarked grave in the Taujore Cemetery, Trichinopoly, India.

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Iain Stewart, 28 June 2016