- Rank:
- Private
- Unit:
- 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment
- Awarded on:
- October 25th, 1940
"On 21 August 1939 near Razimak in Waziristan, at about 1230 hours near Bandiza Village Pte Smythe was a member of one of the Battalion's piquets which was fired on heavily at close range, and enemy tribesmen rushed the piquet. A hand-to-hand encounter ensued during which three members of the Section were killed and four injured, including the Section Commander. Pte Smythe siezed control. Exposing himself to very short-range fire, he went forward to recover a wounded comrade, thereby saving him from almost certain death. His selfless bravery and initiave were far in advanced of what could normally be expected from such a junior soldier."
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"Recommended" - Brig H. V Lewis C.I.E. D.S.O. M.C., Comd Razimak Bde
"Seen and signed" - Gen Sir John Coleridge K.C.B. C.M.G. D.S.O., GOCinC Northern Command, India