Hackney in Greater London, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
Sgt. Issy Smith, VC
Photographed by Martin Sugarman, June 23, 2026
1. Sgt. Issy Smith, VC V.C. Marker
Sgt. Issy Smith, VC, Cr. de Gu.
(Ishroulch Schmeilowitz)
Manchester regiment, awarded the Victoria Cross in WW1 for outstanding courage. He lived in Navarino Mansions Hackney in the 1920s
Be strong and of good courage (Joshua 1:9)
הלוא צויתיך חזק ואמץ
Erected 2026 by Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, IDS Housing, AJEX U.K.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Heroes • Religion & Religious Structures • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation., and the Victoria Cross and George Cross Recipients series lists.
Location. 51° 32.896′ N, 0° 3.766′ W. Marker is in Hackney, England, in Greater London. It is on Dalston Lane near Navarino Mansions, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 212A Dalston Lane, Hackney, England E8, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Greater South East. Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in Atlantic Europe, on one of the British Isles, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Operation Mincemeat (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); 1972 Munich Olympic Massacre (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); The 43 Group (approx. 0.9 kilometers away); Captain John Danny (approx. 1.1 kilometers away); Barnett Lewis (approx. 1.5 kilometers away); Mary Wollstonecraft (approx. 1.5 kilometers away);
this page online
Regarding Sgt. Issy Smith, VC. Sergeant Israel (Issy) Smith, the first non-commissioned Jew to win the Victoria Cross in the 1914-18 war.
Sergeant Smith won the V.C. when serving with the First Battalion of the Manchester Regiment on April 26, 1915. The official record shows that he performed conspicuous acts of bravery in bringing many wounded men to safety in the face of heavy machine gun and rifle fire. He was awarded war decorations by three countries. He had come to Australia before the Great War, and returned to England to serve with the Manchester Regiment. He was wounded five times.
Also see . . .
1. Victorian Association of Jewish Ex & Servicemen & Women Australia Incorporated.
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 VC or not.(Submitted on June 24, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
What happened said the sergeant, was this, "I got wounded near the stream before St Julien Farm, close to theGerman trenches. Corporal Smith took me up on his back and carried me out of the firing line. Whilst he was doing that Lieutenant WNShipster 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.Photographed by Martin Sugarman, June 23, 20262. In proud memory of Jewish War Hero, Issy Smith V.C. Marker
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.
2. Issy Smith.
"Smith was received at Mansion House, Dublin, by the Under-Secretary for Ireland, Matthew Nathan, who took advantage of the occasion to reaffirm loyalty to both Britain and Ireland. Contemporaries, however, continued to report instances of discrimination against Jewish servicemen, including an incident involving Issy Smith in Leeds. While documenting his recruitment drive, The Jewish Chronicle reported that the proprietor of the Grand Restaurant had refused to serve Smith during his tour of Yorkshire because he was Jewish, while indicating the staff were prepared to accept his non-Jewish acquaintance."(Submitted on June 24, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)
Additional keywords. plaque
Credits. This page was last revised on June 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 24, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 23 times since then. Last updated on June 24, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 24, 2026, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
