Lieutenant General Sir Henry George Wakelyn Smith, 1st Baronet of Aliwal was one of the most incredible soldiers of the British Empire making his name during the Napoleonic Peninsular Campaign, where he would rescue his future Spanish born wife, before volunteering to service in America where he witnessed the burning of Washington. That would be enough for most but Harry went on to fight in South Africa, be made Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath for his role in the Gwalior campaign of 1843 in India, commanded a division during the Anglo-Sikh war then became Governor of the Cape Colony. The town of Ladysmith in South Africa is named after his wife. His career is “boys own stuff”, and in some respects the fictional characters of Harry Flashman or Richard Shapre mimic Smith, a career that is almost too good to be true!
If you want to read more about Harry you can find his autobiography for free at archive.org.
Harry Smith
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