Sir Harry George Wakelyn Smith

Sir Harry George Wakelyn Smith (1787 - 1860) was the divisional commander of the British army of the Sutlej under Lord Hugh Gough, during the First Anglo-Sikh war (1845-46). He was a veteran of the Peninsular war and had also taken part in the battle of Waterloo. He saw action at Ferozeshah (21 December 1845), Baddoval (21 January 1846), and at 'Alival (28 January 1846). His troops were stationed at Dharamkot when a division of the Sikh army under Ranjodh Singh Majithia crossed the Sutlej at Phillaur, seriously threatening Ludhiana and intersecting the British line of communication.

Sir Harry advanced towards Jagraon to save Ludhiana where Brigadier Godby held a meagre force of only 3 battalions of infantry. At Baddoval, Ranjodh Singh intercepted him, but by a dexterous manoeuvre, he extricated himself and continued his advance towards Ludhiana. Ludhiana was saved, but the Sikhs claimed a victory at Baddoval. On 28 January, the British force under Harry Smith while leaving Baddoval surprised the Sikh army under Ranjodh Singh and Ajit Singh of Ladva at 'Alival. Soon afterwards, Harry Smith's division joined Lord Gough's army and on 10 February took part in the Battle of Sabhraon. Later Sir Harry was created 'Baronet of 'Alival'.

In 1847, he was made governor of the Cape of Good Hope. He wrote an autobiography, which was edited by G.C. Moore and published well after his death, in London in 1903, under the title, The Autobiography of Lt. General Sir Harry Smith, Baronet of Alival on the Sutlej.

He died in London on 12 October 1860.

References

1. Gough, Sir C., and A.D. Innes, The Sikhs and the Sikh Wars. London, 1897

2. Hasi-at BikramaJit, Anglo-Sikh Relations, 1799-1849. Hoshiarpur, 1968

3. Ganda Singh, ed., Private Correspondence relating to the Anglo-Sikh Wars. Amritsar, 1955