Captain W E C Smith

Ashbourne News Telegraph - Friday 02 December 1898 (page 5) reported:
'MEMORIAL WINDOW. Those who knew the late Captain W. E Clifton Smith will be interested to learn that a new stained glass window has been put up in Clifton church to his memory by Mrs W. E. Smith and other relatives. It has been executed by Mr C. E. Kempe, of London (who designed the east window in Ashbourne church), and consists of five lights [sic]. The two principal figures represent the soldier saints, St. Oswald and St. Alban, and the upper lights contain figures of angels surmounted by canopy work. The whole window is executed in Mr Kempe's well-known style, the colouring being rich, but at the same time subdued. Mr Haycock, of Ashbourne, is at work upon a brass plate to be placed at the foot of the window, recording the brilliant action in which Captain W. E. C. Smith met his death'.
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003305/18981202/064/0005

Ashbourne News Telegraph - Friday 29 October 1897 (page 4) reported:
'Our issue last week contained a brief notice of the brilliant engagement which took place at Dargai and Chagru Kotal on on the 18th and 20th of this month, in driving the rebellious hill tribes from their fastnesses on the Indian frontier; but we little thought that fuller details would bring sorrow to many homes in this neighbourhood. Yet so it is. The Derbyshire regiment took a conspicuous part in the attack on Wednesday week, and whilst gallantly leading his company Captain William Edward Clifton Smith, son Mrs. W. R. Smith, of Clifton, was one of the number whose lives were sacrificed for their Queen and country. Captain Smith entered the Army in 1889, and by his thorough good fellowship immediately made many friends. Prior to the engagement he had but recently returned to the Derbyshire regiment, having been on service in Africa with the Royal Niger Co., and when he left home to join his company in India there was no anticipation of the present serious trouble. On Oct. 21 last year he was promoted to a captaincy which curiously enough he has been fated to hold but exactly twelve months. Captain Smith was well known in Ashbourne and district, and had by his geniality of manner made many local friends. He was only 32 years of age, having been born in 1865, and was a keen sportsman and an excellent shot. He was educated at Repton school, and subsequently proceeded to Exeter College, Oxford. Confirmation of the sad news reached the sorrowing relatives on Friday, and much sympathy is expressed with them in their sad loss. A young and promising career has been cut short, and the British Army has lost a brave officer. The enemy, numbering 12,000, stood their ground with remarkable courage and tenacity, and are reported to have suffered very heavily. The victory was, however, dearly bought, the casualties totalling to 195 killed and wounded. The Derbyshire regiment had two killed and 17 wounded. Of the two the name of Captain W. E. C. Smith is the only one at present received'.
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003305/18971029/026/0004

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/230633882/william_edward_clifton-smith

Ashbourne News Telegraph - Friday 25 January 1907 (page 4) reported:
'Captain Henry Singleton Pennell, V. C., a gallant and promising officer of the 2nd Notts and Derby Regiment, has unfortunately lost his life by an accident whilst tobogganing. The deceased officer has had a short but remarkably brilliant career, including a large share of active service. He served in the Boer War, and was wounded at Pieter's Hill. Before that he served in the campaign on the North-West Frontier of India under Sir William Lockhart with the 2nd Derbyshires, and won his V.C. at Dargai on October 20th, 1897, when Captain W. E. G. Smith, son of Mrs Smith, of Clifton Hall, was struck down and fatally wounded. Captain Pennell ran to his assistance and made two distinct attempts, under a perfect hail of bullets, to carry or drag his companion back to cover, and only desisted when he found that Captain Smith was dead'.
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003305/19070125/067/0004

Historic England: details of Grade II Listing of Holy Trinity Church on 12/7/1985;
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1158352?section=official-list-entry

https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/141501/