Talk:Issy Smith/Archive 1

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Cleanup

The article needs cleaning:

• It looks like there is a quote of the citation, but I'm not sure where it ends.
• It could use more wikilinks.
• It could use some sections.

John (Jwy) 22:19, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

Info apparently from his son

ISSY SMITH V.C.

Issy Smith was born in 1888, and he was registered on his birth Russian certificate, as Ishroulch Shmeilowitz, of Jewish parents, who were then residing in Egypt, dated 18 September 1890, son of Moses Shmeilowitz, a clerk, serving in Egypt, at Alexandria, with the French Consular.

His Mother was called Eva,(Chudnovski) and both parents were by then French citizens.

Issy at the very young age of eleven, strong and sturdy, and forever adventurous, stowed away on a ship bound for England. He settled in London, little is known of his connections, however he went to Berner street school, in the East End of London ,which was the main residence of the Jewish Community, and in what must have been the toughest of environments. He sold fish in his spare time, and carried on until the then school leaving age of fourteen.

ENLISTMENT On 4 September 1904, when nearly 16, by now a handsome, sturdy lad he enlisted in the British Army.

The recruiting sergeant, suggested that he Anglicize his name, and on the sergeant's advise, he became Issy Smith. Smith joined the Ist. Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Smith was sent to serve in South Africa and was later posted to a station in India.

He was very popular, having become the Middleweight Boxing Champion of his Manchester Regiment. During The Indian Durbar Celebrations, he was awarded The Indian Delhi Durbar Medal.

BROTHER INTRODUCES FRIEND

The British Manchester Regiment was returning to England from India, and the relatives and friends of the men, flocked to Charing Cross station to welcome them home. Amongst them was Issy Smith' brother, his girl friend and another girl, Elsie.. The soldiers tumbled cheering from the train, glad again to look up to the grey sky of the Homeland. Young Smith espied his brother, and after a fraternal handshake, Issy was introduced to "My friend Miss Porteous-McKechnie." The girl beheld a sturdy, well set-up young man, whose frank, good humoured face had been bronzed by the sun in India, while he saw a pretty typically English maid.

ROMANCE

In a Melbourne clothing factory there is a bright -eyed, happy girl, who is making arrangements to leave for England, where she is to marry the man to whom she is engaged, and from who she has been separated by the War. ( Melbourne Herald ). The girl is Miss Elsie Porteous of Lennox Street, Moonee Ponds, who is employed by Davies, Doery, & Co. 98 Flinders Lane, and the lover who waits for her impatiently at the other end of the World, is Corporal Issy Smith, the first Jew to be awarded the Victoria Cross. Fate which first brought the young couple together, has also kept them apart; but the War which separated them a year ago, is now to be the means of bringing them together again, for the War Office has allotted Corporal Smith, £500, so that financially the way to matrimony has been made easy for them.

ARMY DISCHARGE

In 1912, Corporal Issy Smith had served his eight years in the army, and secured his discharge. He worked as a plumber in London, and the friendship which had developed between him and Elsie, quickly ripened into romance and the two became engaged. Eighteen months later, Smith, anxious to improve his position, with a view to matrimony, sailed for Australia. He landed in Melbourne, and obtained a position in the employ of the Metropolitan Gas Company.

Elsie Porteous followed Issy to Australia, and when she landed, Melbourne was gripped by the excitement which characterized the early weeks of World War I.

MARRIAGE

Elsie Porteous had sailed from Australia to marry her fiancée Issy Smith, and found herself overwhelmed by the adoration bestowed upon her Hero. On February 8th. 1919,-- Issy Smith, giving his name as Israel Shlmovitz, otherwise Smith,-- married Elsie Porteous-McKechnie, a tailoress of London and Melbourne, at the Camberwell Registry Office, London. Later they were married at a Religious ceremony at the Hallam Street Synagogue, London. A daughter, Olive was born in London, and a son, Maurice was born to them in Victoria Australia in 1932.

ARMY CALL UP 1914

Corporal 1 Smith was still on the Army Reserve list, and four weeks after his fiancée arrived, he was called to report at Victoria Barracks, and was ordered into Camp. Since the day that she took farewell of him, when with his bundle on his shoulders, he left for Broadmeadows Camp, Miss Poteous had not seen the man to whom she had become engaged to; letters of cause she had, but the War is a subject that has been given little promise in these epistles. But Corporal Smith quickly became a popular hero, so that his adventures were not difficult to follow.

GERMAN NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN:"- 1914 There were several references in wartime newspapers, mentioning that Issy Smith had served in the German New Guinea Campaign. The capture of German New Guinea took only six weeks, and started at the beginning of the War. It would seem obvious that only trained Regular Army Forces took part in the Campaign, and Smith had served in the Regular British Army, In December he joined the Convoy which went to the Middle East, and although it was only a short time after the Campaign, -- there were many of the troops who had served in New Guinea. I was not able to trace the Australian Army number for Smith, and therefore not able to receive information on his Australian Army service record. Archives of the Manchester Regiment, giving a report in The Daily Herald, 28th. August 1915, An interview with Sergeant Rooke of 1st. Battalion The Manchester Regiment,-- stated that Smith, on the outbreak of War in 1914, went with the Australian Army to assist in the capture of German New Guinea. Then with other Reservists, he was sent Overseas to join his old Regimental .Sargeant Rooke said that Corporal Smith left for France in February 1915, and after staying in Rouen for some time, was sent to the Front Line on 9th. March. It was during this time that the two formed a close friendship, and on this basis one can assume that Issy Smith did in fact serve in the German New Guinea Action. No special medal was struck for service in New Guinea in 1914.

I N ACTION ON THE WESTERN FRONT FRANCE 1915 _ Press Report On Tuesday morning the Colonel commanding the troops holding a section of our new line, was astonished to receive a message from a Lance Corporal Smith, who had informed him that he was holding on to the stables of Hooge with twenty men.

This Lance Corporal with another N.C.O., had collected these twenty men, and as there were no Officers on the spot to take command, had held the trenches running through the stables, all through Monday and the night until Tuesday morning without orders without any connection with the rest of the troops, alone and on his own responsibility.

When he managed to get a message through, he did not ask to be relieved, he only asked for reinforcements, and for more ammunition. It was not until 7.30 in the evening that Lance Corporal Smith noticed that a new line was being dug behind him, and led his small band out of the trenches, Heroes every one of them.

BATTLEFRONT YPRES 1915

We rested at night at Vlamertwighe, in Belgium, and next morning we resumed our march to the unknown place, finally we found ourselves in Ypres. We were shelled heavily, when we were marching through it, and the native troops of the Indian Division which our Battalion, the Manchester Regiment, was part of, suffered heavy casualties.

About 11 o'clock on the morning of the 26th. April, we halted in a field for a rest, but we had not time to take off our equipment before shells were rained on us from a German aeroplane, killing a great many. We then got the orders to run for cover at once, and leave everything behind us. I left my pack behind me, and when we went to look for cover I suddenly remembered that I had left my cigarettes behind. I went back to get my cigarettes out of my pack, and it was lucky I did, for just some more shells landed, and several more were killed.

When in The front line, we were shelled for forty minutes, follow by five minutes of rapid fire. After our long march we were almost breathless with fatigue, but nevertheless, ordered to fix bayonets and charge the enemy.

Lieutenant Robinson was in charge, and we were the leading platoon. It was an awful charge, and made the German's yell like madmen. They saw the cold steel coming on them like an avalanche.

We thrust the bayonets through them without flinching. Our commander was wounded, and I at once got my field dressing out, and bandaged him up. There was heavy machine gun fire at this time. I carried the wounded Commander about two hundred yards, before I got to a First- Aid Post. On my way I saw Lieutenant Shipster running up and down continuously with ammunition for a machine gun. Lieutenant Shipster was a man who knew no fear, he saw me bending under the weight of another wounded man, Sergeant Rooke, and said don’t falter old chap, I shan't be long, and will give you a hand. The place was swept by heavy fire at this time, and Lieutenant Shipster had not gone more than twenty yards, when he was shot in the neck. I said to Sergeant Rooke, "Lay here a minute while I bandage Lieut. Shipster" .I rolled down the hill with my hands by my side, and reached the officer. I carried him to the spot where Sergeant Rooke lay, and moved Rooke a few yards, and then Lieut. Shipster a few yards, and so on, alternatively, until I reached our trenches, where I found the 4th. Suffolk’s in support. I brought Sergeant Rooke to safety while a Lieut. Priestly came out of the trench for Lieut. Shipster. Dead exhausted , I fell down, not able to move. The officer then gave me a flask, and said, " There is brandy in this, take a drop, and it will revive you." I said that I would not, as I was a Teetotaler., and intended to remain one, no matter what happened. But I was dreadfully weak. I rested for an hour, then went back to my company, to learn that Lieut. Robinson was missing. Afterwards I went out to look for him, but could not find him. I saw a lot of our wounded lying about. I with the help of stretcher bearers, managed to take them out of danger. We were relieved by the Highland Light Infantry about 3 o'clock in the morning of 27th. April, and we went back, and received a good meal. The first for two days. I was slightly gassed, and was carried to the first aid post. I lay there very sick for 24 hours, but would not leave the battalion, as I wanted to stay with my comrades.

His Own Bravery Rescuing wounded under heavy machine gun fire, and rifle fire, is to Issy Smith, a soldiers duty and every soldier is, he thinks, capable of it. What impulse moved him to perform feats of undying heroism which this cold and unvarnished announcement indicates. Most conspicuous bravery on the 26th. April 1915, near Ypres, when he left his Company on his own initiative, and went well forward towards the enemies position to assist a severely wounded man, whom he carried a distance of 250 yards to safety, whilst exposed to heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. Subsequently Corporal Smith displayed great gallantry when the casualties were very heavy, in voluntarily assisting to bring in the many more wounded men throughout the day, and attending them with the greatest devotion to duty, regardless of personal risk. Was it indomitable pluck, desperation, a sense of duty, or sheer human pity? A reporter asked these questions, and Smith answered, as a hero would, " That it is the heart that is moved." Who, he asked could fail to give succor to a stricken comrade. T here are people who think they would not have the courage to do all this, but the sad scenes that you see on the battlefield impel one, and you simply cannot fail in your duty. You see objects falling every now and then, men who have been shot. Then you become desperate, and you do not care what happens. When I was removing the wounded I did not care what happened so long as I succeeded in taking them out of the danger zone. Corporal Smith was then 28 years of age, He had eleven years service, having joined in St. Georges Barracks, London in 1904; he had seen service in South Africa, and India.

HOSPITALIZATION

Tells How He Won The Victoria Cross and What it feels like to be under heavy fire Jewish community besiege hospital in Mountjoy Square, Dublin Ireland, To honour their Hero. Dublin The Jewish community besieged the Dublin University V.A.D. Auxiliary hospital in MountJoy Square, for one of the inmates, Corporal Issy Smith, one of their co-religionists who had just been awarded the Victoria Cross. Corporal Smith has been in hospital since August 8th. They were aware. that he had been recommended for the award; for bravery of the most conspicuous kind, and they were proud of him being the first Jew in the British Isles to win such an honour. Smith slowly recovering from the effects of gas poisoning, was honoured by his admirers, with a celebration at a City hotel where they feted him to their hearts content. It was a somewhat exited and emotional company. There was in fact a somewhat more emotional event, than most people would associate with the Jewish character. However there was one man amongst them who seemed proof against all of this fine sentiment, and that was Issy Smith the hero of many a battle. Issy had lived in blood these ten months, and now he was hardened at the killing business, and talks of the most terrible carnage, as if were one of the small things in life. There is one thing which he cannot understand, and that is why we make a fuss of our heroes. "Why", he said to an" Evening Mail" representative who had talked to him that day, "every British Soldier is a Hero", and then he went on to speak of the deeds unnoted and unrewarded that were performed on the Battlefield.

CITATION

NO. 168 A/ Cpl. Issy Smith (SHMULOVITCH ) , 1st.Battalion Manchester Regiment, awarded the Victoria Cross. Far most conspicuous bravery on April 26th. 1915, near Ypres, when he left his company on his own initiative, and went forward towards the enemy's position to assist a severely wounded man, whom he carried a distance of 250 yards to safety whilst exposed the whole time to heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. Subsequently Corporal Smith displayed great gallantry when casualties were very heavy, in voluntary assisting to bring in many more wounded men throughout the whole day, and attending them with the greatest devotion to duty, regardless of personal risk. One of the rescued Sergeant Rooke, told a Daily Mail representative, that he did not know whether Smith's action on that occasion had won him the V.C. or not. What happened said the sergeant, was this, "I got wounded near the stream before St. Julien Farm, close to the German trenches. Corporal Smith took me up on his back and carried me out of the firing line. Whilst he was doing that Lieutenant W.N.Shipster said he would give a hand, but we had only gone a few yards when the Lieutenant was hit in the neck. He managed to get to the trench, and Smith carried me there himself. Bullets were flying around us at that time, I was only two hundred yards from the German trenches, and the fact that Smith wasn't hit, was a sheer miracle. He behaved with wonderful coolness and presence of mind the whole time, and no man deserved a Victoria Cross more thoroughly than he did.

SMITH TELLS SCHOOL BOYS THE STORY

Sergeant Issy Smith V.C., addressed the boys at the Leeds Modern school, and told them in a few simple sentences, how he won the coveted honour. At the onset he confessed it was difficult to tell the story o fthe deed, because he did not know how it occurred. " Anyway I have a slight idea ", he proceeded.

" It was on April 26th, about two o'clock, when we were ordered to attack the German trenches. We were met by a terrific shell and machine gun fire, and when nearing the enemie’s trenches, the Germans commenced using gas ". " It was the first occasion upon which they had used gas", he continued, and of course we were not prepared for it." "We had to return, and in doing so we left some wounded in the German trench. I then went forward to carry some of the wounded out, and succeeded in getting two out, but in trying to rescue the third, I was gassed, my comrades however, got the other chap out.

PROUD TO BE A JEW

Sergeant Smith said he was proud to be a Jew, and added that Jew and Gentile were fighting side by side for freedom and liberty. He dwelt upon the fine benefits of sport in life Mr H M Sirwans thanking the headmaster for the opportunity of presenting the JEWISH V.C., said that Sergeant Smith had tried to give an incentive not only to Jewish young men, but also to others. The headmaster of the school (Mr. Barber ) thanked Sergeant Smith and the boys gave him three rousing cheers. It is interesting to note, that Issy Smith had kept a personal diary in the Yiddish Language.

FATE AND FAITH

At the Lord Mayors reception in Dublin, Ireland, Smith told a stirring story. At Neuve Chapelle, in France he had captured a prisoner, and was just on the point of bayoneting him, when something held him back. He did not bayonet the man, but took him prisoner, and placed him where the prisoners were received. There on searching the man, he found that the German was wearing a Jewish token.

That told him that there was a God, and with God's help, we would win the War. Corporal Smith was wounded at Givenchy, in France, on December 24th. 1914 On March 11th., he was again wounded at Neuve Chapelle, and was later gassed at Ypres, where he won The Victoria Cross.

After his recruiting drives in Great Britain, he was transferred to The Middle East, in Mesopotamia; the vessel in which he traveled, being torpedoed on the way. In March, he was once again wounded at Bagdad, capital of Syria. -Smith certainly gave as much as any man could

FOR HIS K I NG AND COUNTRY

At one Lord Mayors Reception, it was stated that Corporal Smith belonged to a race which had shown its prowess on the battlefield as well as ditinguished itself in Religion, Literature., and Commerce To this land of Freedom, and Liberty,-- the Jews would give of their very best. The Valor Smith had displayed; he had inherited from his Ancestors.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

The Lord Chamberlain is Commanded by His Majesty King George V, Emperor of India, to invite Sergeant Issy Smith V.C. 1st. Manchester Regiment. To an Investiture: On Saturday 16th . October 1915 Sergeant Issy Smith V.C. received the Victoria Cross, at the personal hands of his King. It was indeed the proudest moment of his life. The Victoria Cross bore the inscription, “FOR VALOUR”

Decorated By The Tsar Of Russia

When serving in the Middle East; Mesopotamia, as a sergeant, Smith received the Russian Cross of St. George and Palm. Smith was present at the fall of Baghdad and Jerusalem. The Award was for " Gallantry and Distinguished service in the field. "

Decorated by The French Government French Croix de Guerre and Palm.

RECRUITING CAMPAIGN AND RECEPTION

Corporal Issy Smith V.C.Presentation

On Wednesday the 15th. day of September 1915, In the Mansion House, Dublin, Sir Matthew Nathan, G.C.M.G., will make the Presentation. Smith was also presented at the Royal Hippodrome, and the Empire Theatre, and later motored out to a recruiting meeting, at Clontarf, where he delivered a short speech, He thanked all the audiences for their cordial reception, and appealed to the young men to enlist.

Corporal Smith V.C., took three months to recuperate from his gas poisoning, and was dispatched to England, and directed to undertake a National Recruiting Drive. Corporal Smith's fist action on leaving the hospital, was to send a cable to his fiancée. Elsie Porteous-McKechnie " Wire me if you wish to come to England.".

On October 16th 1915, Smith was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and his three stripes were presented to him by his Colonel, of the Manchester Regiment. Sergeant Smith, now a recruiting officer, left Manchester for many recruiting drives, and press details were written, on visits to Leeds, Hull, Bradford and other centres.

The Lord Mayors of all these towns, and many others, gave Smith, a Lord Mayor’s Reception. And he was cheered and Feted wherever he went. Smith was always reminded, that he had not only added lustre to the Manchester Regiment, but also to The Jewish Race.

RETURN TO AUSTRALIA

In 1925 Issy Smith with his wife, and daughter Olive, set-sail for Australia, on board the liner "ORSOVA". Whilst on board ship, he gave exhibition bouts of boxing and was very popular with the many young boys who enjoyed his boxing lessons. Tommy Noble, the holder of the Bantam championship of England, was also on the ship, and was on his way to Australia to engage in boxing contests.

The family settled in Moonee Ponds a suburb of Melbourne. At a later stage it was revealed that Jack Daniels the English boxer was in fact, no other than Issy Smith V.C. In 1928, Smith became the Melbourne manager for British International Pictures. In 1930 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace and regularly sat on the City Court Bench. At the 1931 Federal Election, he unsuccessfully contested the seat of Melbourne, as a United Australia Party candidate. During the Depression years, he took an interest in supporting families in dire needs, very often to the detriment of his own family. A letter sent by Smith to the Editor of the ARGUS, appealed to the public to see that the many deprived children of Moonee Ponds and Essendon, receive toys, sweets, and cakes, for Christmas. On the battlefield, or on the streets of his Town, he was forever compassionate towards his Fellow Man.

Smith was working as a commercial traveler for the Dunlop Rubber Company, when in 1932 his son Maurice was born.

In 1937 he joined the Head Office staff of the Civil Aviation Department, the following year the family moved to Essendon, and his interests in his Ex-servicemen, and other Communal aspects continued. He was a popular member of the Returned Services League.

VALE Sergeant Issy Smith V.C., died at his home in Moonee Ponds. Victoria, Australia, at the early age of 52., on September, 11. 1940 There is no doubt that his War wounds contributed to his death. The funeral left from his house, at 54 Derby Street Moonee Ponds, for the Fawkner Cemetery. Issy Smith V.C.. was buried with full Military Honours. A detachment of the 12th. Garrison Battalion met the Cortage at the Hebrew Gates of the Cemetery, and the procession marched to the graveside. Issy Smith V.C., was a proud, and devout Jew, and the service was conducted by Rabbi H. Freedman. An Address was given by Councillor J.T. Alexander, President of the Essendon Branch of the Returned Service League. A Salute of rifle fire, gave Honour to this Patriot. Sergeant Issy Smith V.C., was the first Jewish Non Commissioned Officer to win the coveted V.C. The late Lieutenant de Pass, of the 34th. Poona horse, was the first Jew to win the award.

ISSY SMITH AWARDS and MEDALS

THE VICTORIA CROSS 1 91 4 - 1 8 STAR PEACE MEDAL VICTORY MEDAL DELHI DURBAR MEDAL CORONATION MEDAL FRENCH CROIX de GUERRE & PALM RUSSIAN CROSS OF ST GEORGE AND PALM

Written by Maurice Smith (Son) mauries@bigpond.net.au