24 June 2012

Victoria Cross: H. A. Carter

HERBERT AUGUSTINE CARTER

Lieutenant, Number 6 Company, Indian Mounted Infantry

Born: 26 May 1874, Exeter, Devon
Died: 13 January 1916, St Erth, Cornwall

Citation: During a reconnaissance near Jidballi, on 19th December, 1903, when the two Sections of the Poona Mounted Infantry and the Tribal Horse were retiring before a force of Dervishes which outnumbered them by thirty to one, Lieutenant Carter rode back alone, a distance of four hundred yards, to the assistance of Private Jai Singh, who had lost his horse, and was closely pursued by a large number of the enemy, and, taking the Sepoy up behind him, brought him safely away.
When Lieutenant Carter reached Private Jai Singh, the Sections were several hundred yards off.

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In consequence of the above, the appointment of this Officer to the Distinguished Service Order, which was notified in the London Gazette of 7th June, 1904, is cancelled.

[London Gazette issue 27742 dated 9 Dec 1904, published 9 Dec 1904.]


Note: Jidballi, or Jidbaale, is in the Sanaag region of what was then Somaliland, and is now part of northern Somalia.

10 June 2012

Medal of Honor: C. A. Lindbergh

CHARLES A LINDBERGH

Captain, US Army Air Corps Reserve

Born: 4 February 1902, Detroit, Michigan
Died: 26 August 1974, Kipahulu, Hawaii

Citation: For displaying heroic courage and skill as a navigator, at the risk of his life, by his nonstop flight in his airplane, the Spirit of St. Louis, from New York City to Paris, France, 20-21 May 1927, by which Capt. Lindbergh not only achieved the greatest individual triumph of any American citizen but demonstrated that travel across the ocean by aircraft was possible.

03 June 2012

Medal of Honor: W. Smith

WILLIAM SMITH

Quartermaster, US Navy; USS Kearsarge

Born: 1838, Ireland
Died: 12 January 1902, Merrimack County, New Hampshire

Citation: Served as second quartermaster on board the U.S.S. Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg, France, 19 June 1864. Acting as captain of the 11-inch pivot gun of the second division, Smith carried out his duties courageously and deserved special notice for the deliberate and cool manner in which he acted throughout the bitter engagement. It is stated by rebel officers that this gun was more destructive and did more damage than any other gun of Kearsarge.


Note: One of 17 Kearsarge crewmen who were awarded the Medal of Honor for this action.