A Hero In Our Midst - Percy Shawe Smith
Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:32 am
A Hero In Our Midst - Percy Shawe Smith - The last officer to survive from the 'Charge of the Light Brigade'
I came across an interesting piece of information the other day. In the Minutes of the Standing Committee of the Goldsmiths' Company for 15th February 1917, there is this brief mention:
The death was reported of a liveryman, Captain P.S. Smith. He was the last surviving officer who rode in the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava in 1854.
Having always been a lover of tales of derring do, and also interested the lives of silversmiths, this one was right up my street, and what I was to uncover was a story right out of 'Boy's Own' magazine, but also that of a perhaps forgotten hero.
The briefest of facts are as follows, Born c.1829, Percy Smith was amazingly accepted for active service in the Crimean War as a officer in the 13th Light Dragoons, despite the fact that he had only one useable arm, the maimed arm being the result of an earlier shooting accident. Smith overcame this handicap by being fitted with an iron guard that enabled him to hold a sword in one hand, leaving his good hand free to control his horse. The guard had been presented to him by his brother officers.
The events of that fateful day on the 25th October 1854 need not be repeated here, but on the morning of the 25th, Smith's arm guard was nowhere to be found. Undaunted, and with incredible bravery, Smith refused any thoughts of not accompanying his fellow horsemen, and rode into that hell without it, and without anyway to defend himself. Almost beyond belief, Percy Smith was one of the very few that made it back, receiving only a slight wound, he was also only one of two that made the return on his own horse.
Percy Smith was captured on two images taken of the survivors by the war photographer, Roger Fenton just after the battle.
He was later to receive the Citation for the Sardinian Medal stated 'For distinguished conduct in the Light Cavalry Charge at Balaclava on the 25th October 1854'
Percy Smith left the army in 1858. He was married to the daughter of Mr. W. Wilson Yeates of Caversham Grove and Norfolk Crescent, London. They are known to have had one son. Captain Percy Shawe Smith died on the 8th February 1917 at Portswood, Southampton, and was buried on the 13th February 1917 in Southampton Cemetery, his grave is unmarked.
Of Percy Smith, the man, and the soldier, I have learnt a little, but of Percy Smith, the silversmith, I have learnt nothing, but I am hopeing that others will add information to this thread.
Trev.
I came across an interesting piece of information the other day. In the Minutes of the Standing Committee of the Goldsmiths' Company for 15th February 1917, there is this brief mention:
The death was reported of a liveryman, Captain P.S. Smith. He was the last surviving officer who rode in the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava in 1854.
Having always been a lover of tales of derring do, and also interested the lives of silversmiths, this one was right up my street, and what I was to uncover was a story right out of 'Boy's Own' magazine, but also that of a perhaps forgotten hero.
The briefest of facts are as follows, Born c.1829, Percy Smith was amazingly accepted for active service in the Crimean War as a officer in the 13th Light Dragoons, despite the fact that he had only one useable arm, the maimed arm being the result of an earlier shooting accident. Smith overcame this handicap by being fitted with an iron guard that enabled him to hold a sword in one hand, leaving his good hand free to control his horse. The guard had been presented to him by his brother officers.
The events of that fateful day on the 25th October 1854 need not be repeated here, but on the morning of the 25th, Smith's arm guard was nowhere to be found. Undaunted, and with incredible bravery, Smith refused any thoughts of not accompanying his fellow horsemen, and rode into that hell without it, and without anyway to defend himself. Almost beyond belief, Percy Smith was one of the very few that made it back, receiving only a slight wound, he was also only one of two that made the return on his own horse.
Percy Smith was captured on two images taken of the survivors by the war photographer, Roger Fenton just after the battle.
He was later to receive the Citation for the Sardinian Medal stated 'For distinguished conduct in the Light Cavalry Charge at Balaclava on the 25th October 1854'
Percy Smith left the army in 1858. He was married to the daughter of Mr. W. Wilson Yeates of Caversham Grove and Norfolk Crescent, London. They are known to have had one son. Captain Percy Shawe Smith died on the 8th February 1917 at Portswood, Southampton, and was buried on the 13th February 1917 in Southampton Cemetery, his grave is unmarked.
Of Percy Smith, the man, and the soldier, I have learnt a little, but of Percy Smith, the silversmith, I have learnt nothing, but I am hopeing that others will add information to this thread.
Trev.