Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, 48th Indian Infantry Brigade, 17th Indian Infantry Division, British Indian Army

Awarded on:

October 5th, 1944

"During the night of 6/7 June, the Japanese put in a heavy attack against the fwd position of 1.w.Yorkshires in Ningoukong. A coy which held portions of the perimeter and of which Pte Smith was a member came on for particularly strong assaults by the enemy. Pte Smith was one of three Bren gunners manning fwd posts in bunkers. The enemy's attack was so strong that two of these three lmgs were put out of action and Pte smiths was the only one left firing. All the remainder of his section had become casualties and the enemy had entered bunkers on his right thereby enfilading him. Withstanding these facts coolly and completely undaunted and despite the enemy intense frontal and flanking fire he stuck to his gun and was determined not to yield an inch and held his bunker from 0100 hours to 0400 hours and during that time inflicted many casualties on the enemy. He was such an obstacle to their attacks that the enemy eventually singled him out for special attention by throwing large numbers of gernades at his bunker still fearlessly held his position. At last three grenades fell inside his bunker and with great courage he managed to throw two out of three back on the enemy but the third blew up in the bunker and severely wounded him. His continued and stubborn resistance was a vital factor in the ultimate repulse of the enemy. His endurance and courage were of the highest order culminating in great individual gallantry and devotion to duty."