George Smith (chaplain) George Smith (chaplain) 'Padre' George Smith (8 January 1845 – 26/27 November 1918), Army Chaplain, was a defender of Rorke's Drift during the Zulu War of 1879, an action which saw the winning of eleven Victoria Crosses. Born in Docking in Norfolk in 1845, 'Padre' George Smith served as a missionary in South Africa from 1870. However, he is best remembered for his part in the famous defence of Rorke's Drift during the Zulu War of 1877–79 which won him the praise of several officers involved in that action in their reports. As an assistant army chaplain, and therefore a
32nd (Cornwall) Regiment of Foot also saw action at the Siege of Multan in autumn 1848 and at the Battle of Gujrat in February 1849 during the Second Anglo-Sikh War. The regiment defended Lucknow from July to November 1857, Victoria Crosses being awarded to William Dowling, Henry Gore-Browne, Samuel Lawrence and William Oxenham. The regiment's commanding officer, Colonel John Inglis, was in overall command of the Lucknow Residency during the siege. The regiment was retitled the 32nd (Cornwall) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) in recognition of its contribution during the rebellion. As part of the Cardwell Reforms of the 1870s, where single-battalion regiments were linked