Draft:Angus Smith

Angus Smith (21 October 1833 – 3 April 1902) was a soldier in the British Army who served as a private during the Crimean War. He later served in New Zealand where he received the New Zealand Cross for bravery.

Early life and family
Smith was originally from Balmacaan, in Glen Urquhart, Inverness-shire, Scotland. He was born there on 21 October 1833, the son of Duncan Shaw Smith and Catherine Fraser, and baptised two weeks later, on 5 November. His father had served as a sergeant with the East India Company.

Crimean War
During the Crimean War, Smith served as a private (regimental number 2903) in the 93rd (Highland) Regiment of Foot. He was awarded the Crimea Medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, and Sevastopol. During the third and final offensive of the Battle of the Great Redan on 8 September 1855, Smith was part of a group of volunteers under Lieutenant Fenwick that entered the Redan late that night but found it largely deserted by the Russians, shortly before an explosion in the Redan. Later in 1855, Smith deserted the regiment.

New Zealand
By 1863, Smith was in Melbourne, Victoria, where he was working as a mason. On 25 August that year, he was one of the first of the 822 Victoria-based volunteers to enlist in the 1st Regiment of Waikato Militia, for service in the New Zealand Wars. Smith sailed with the first contingent from Melbourne on 31 August on the Star of India, arriving in Auckland on 12 September, after a 12-day voyage.

On 17 March 1865 at Tauranga, Smith married Jessie MacDonald, whose father had been the miller at the Mill of Torr in Glen Urquhart.

Death and legacy
Smith died from blood poisoning at his home in Ōpōtiki on 3 April 1902, and was buried in Ōpōtiki Cemetery. His New Zealand Cross is held in the collection of National Museums Scotland, and is displayed at the National War Museum in Edinburgh Castle.