Edward Benn “Ned” Smith VC DCM

b. 10/11/1898 Maryport, Cumberland. d. 12/01/1940 Bucquoy, France.

Edward Benn “Ned” Smith (1898-1940) was born on 10th November 1898 at 1 North Quay, Maryport, Cumberland. His father, Charles Henry Smith was originally from Herefordshire, and married Martha Benn in 1893 in Cockermouth, Cumberland. In 1901, they were boarding with Martha’s father. By 1911, Charles was a fisherman. He served during the Great War in the Royal Naval Reserve in the Dardanelles. Martha’s family served aboard the Maryport Lifeboat for two generations. Ned had nine siblings.

Ned was educated at the National School, Maryport, and then worked at Oughterside Colliery, near Maryport. He enlisted in the South Wales Borderers on 11th December 1915 and transferred to the Reserve. On 4th May 1917 he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers and went to France on 10th December. He was posted to 1/5th Lancashire Fusiliers and was subsequently promoted corporal and acting lance sergeant.

Edward B Smith VC DCM

On 10th August 1918, then a Corporal with the 1/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, he was leading a daylight patrol near Hebuterne in the Somme Area of France to examine points in the German lines where information was required. As the patrol was about to retire, Ned Smith saw a party of about 40 Germans about to take up outpost duty. Despite being heavily outnumbered by the German soldiers, Corporal Smith led his small party of men and engaged the enemy, breaking up the German party and causing severe casualties. As well as receiving the Distinguished Conduct Medal for this action, Ned Smith was promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant.

Only 11 days later, during the period 21st to 23rd August 1918, east of Serre, France, Lance-Sergeant Smith while in command of a platoon, personally took a machine-gun post at The Lozenge (Hill 140), rushing the garrison with his rifle and bayonet. The enemy on seeing him coming, scattered to throw hand grenades at him, but heedless of all danger and almost without halting in his rush, this NCO shot at least six of them. Later, seeing another platoon needing assistance, he led his men to them, took command and captured the objective. During an enemy counter-attack the following day he led a section forward and restored a portion of the line.

At the age of just 19, Ned was the youngest soldier to be awarded the VC during the Great War. When he returned home in 1919, he was greeted by a crowd of overr 6,000 in Maryport. A local newspaper described him as thus: “Sergeant Smith is not only a VC but looks it. He is a British soldier every inch of him. He is an A1 man from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. …. He has not only won the VC but he has a chest on which to display it.” He was presented with the VC at Buckingham Palace by King George V on 9th November 1918 (the eve of his 20th birthday).

In 1920, he attended the VC Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, where he was the youngest VC present. Ned remained in the Army and served for a further 21 years in China, Malaya and Ireland before retiring with an Army pension in 1938 having attained the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major. He then joined the Corps of Commissionaires for a year in London. He attended the 1929 VC Dinner at the House of Lords.

However, with war looking imminent in the summer of 1939, he re-enlisted with his old Regiment. In the Second World War with the rank of Lieutenant (Quartermaster) Edward Benn Smith VC, DCM, served with the 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, which was among the first of the British Expeditionary Force to be sent to France. Unfortunately, members of the Lancashire Fusiliers were some of the earliest casualties of the war, and sadly, these included Ned, who died on 12th January 1940 at the age of 41, from a self-inflicted gun shot wound in the QM store, very close to where his VC action took place. He was buried in Beuvry Communal Cemetery Extension, France. He never married. He is commemorated on the War Memorial at Netherhall Corner, on the War Memorial at St Mary’s Church, Maryport, and with a VC commemorative stone at Maryport Harbour unveiled on 22nd August 2018.

In addition to his VC and DCM he was awarded the British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, 1939-45 Star, War Medal 1939-45, George V Silver Jubilee Medal 1935, George VI Coronation Medal 1937 and the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. The medals were bequeathed to the Regiment. However, one of the siblings requested that they were returned to the family in the 1950s. The Regiment was unable to produce any documents of ownership and the medals were handed over. The VC and DCM were sold by Sotheby’s for £7,000 on 23rd November 1977 and at Spink’s to Lord Ashcroft for £19,000 on 12th March 1996. The medal group is currently being transferred to the National Army Museum.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: LORD ASHCROFT COLLECTION.

BURIAL PLACE: BEUVRY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION , BEUVRY, FRANCE.

PLOT I, ROW B, GRAVE 7.