Editing Issy Smith (section)

{{short description|Recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{featured article}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=Issy Smith
|image= Issy Smith,VC (P02349.003).jpg
|image_size= 280px
|alt=
|caption= Smith (left) attending an [[Anzac Day]] parade in 1927. On the right is [[Stanley Gibbs]], recipient of the [[Albert Medal (lifesaving)|Albert Medal]].
|nickname=
|birth_date= {{birth date|1890|9|18|df=yes}}{{sfn|Knight|2022|pp=96-97}}
|birth_place= [[Constantinople]], [[Ottoman Empire]]{{sfn|Knight|2022|pp=96-97}}
|death_date= {{Death date and age|1940|09|10|1890|09|18|df=yes}}{{sfn|Knight|2022|pp=1127-1128}}
|death_place= [[Melbourne]], Victoria, Australia
|placeofburial=
|allegiance= United Kingdom
|branch= [[British Army]]
|serviceyears= {{ubl|1904–1912|1914–1919}}
|rank= [[Sergeant]]
|unit= 1st Battalion, [[The Manchester Regiment]]
|battles= {{tree list}}
* First World War
**[[Second Battle of Ypres]]{{tree list/end}}
|awards= {{ubl|[[Victoria Cross]]|{{Lang|fr|[[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de Guerre]] (France)}}|[[Cross of St. George (Russia)]]<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=12845 |date=27 August 1915 |pages=1306,1310,1312,1315 |city=e |quote=His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Russia has been graciously pleased to confer, with the approval of His Majesty the King, the undermentioned rewards for gallantry and distinguished service in the Field :— Cross of the Order of Saint George, 4th Class.}}</ref><ref name="MinerIssySmith"/>}}
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
'''Issy Smith''' {{post-nominals|size=100%|VC}} (18 September 1890 – 10 September 1940) was a British-Australian recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]] (VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to eligible forces of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] and United Kingdom. In recognition of his VC, he was also awarded the French {{Lang|fr|[[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de Guerre]]}} and Russian [[Cross of St. George]] (4th class) by the respective governments.

Born '''Ishroulch Shmeilowitz''' (and other renderings), to parents residing in Turkey, Smith travelled to Britain as a child stowaway and enlisted in the [[British Army]] in 1904. He emigrated to Australia after he had transferred to the reserve, where he remained until mobilised as a reservist in 1914. As a corporal in the 1st Battalion, [[The Manchester Regiment]], Smith was engaged in the [[Second Battle of Ypres]]. On 26 April 1915, Smith, on his own initiative, recovered wounded soldiers while exposed to sustained fire and attended to them "with the greatest devotion to duty regardless of personal risk".<ref name="LG">{{London Gazette|issue=29272 |supp=y|page=8374|date=20 August 1915}}</ref> His conduct secured a recommendation for the Victoria Cross, which was awarded to Smith in August 1915.<ref name="LG"/>

After his demobilisation, Smith returned to Australia with his wife and daughter. He became a prominent figure in [[Melbourne]]'s Jewish community, was appointed a [[Justice of the Peace]], and unsuccessfully stood as a candidate for the [[United Australia Party]] in the [[1931 Australian federal election|1931 general election]].<ref name="Times 1931">''The Times'', 21 December 1931; p. 10; Issue 46011; col A.</ref>