Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore

A Boer War D.C.M. group of five awarded to Colour-Sergeant R. Smerdon, Devonshire Regiment, for his services with the 1st Mounted Infantry

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (2194 Clr:-Serjt: R. Smerdon. 2nd Devon: Regt.); India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (2194 Sergt. R. Smerdon 1st Bn. Devon: Regt.); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (2194 Sgt. R. Smerdon, Devon: Regt.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2194 Serjt: R. Smerdon. Devon: Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (2194 C. Sjt: R. Smerdon. Devon Regt.) light edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine (5) £1,400-£1,800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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Dix Noonan Webb, September 2018.

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901:
‘Mounted Infantry, 1st Battalion, Colour-Sergeant M. [sic] Smerdon, Devonshire Regiment.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 10 September 1901.

Richard Smerdon was born at Torquay, Devon, in 1871, and enlisted into the 1st Devonshire Regiment on 28 October 1888, having had prior service in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion. Posted to the 1st Battalion he embarked in H.M.S. Serapis on 28 January 1891 for service in Egypt where he passed his Mounted Infantry Certificate at Abbassia later that year. Promoted Corporal in December 1892 and embarking for India he was awarded his 2nd Class Certificate of Education in March 1894. He passed for promotion to Sergeant and was promoted to that rank on 5 May 1897. The 1st Battalion marched out of Fort Bara to join Tirah Field Force at Kohat on 8 October 1897 and were present at the capture of Sampagha and Arhangha Passes before returning by train to Jullundur. He was awarded the India Medal 1895 with clasps Punjab Frontier 1897-98 and Tirah 1897-98.

Posted to the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment at Aldershot in April 1899 Smerdon was ordered along with the battalion to mobilise for South Africa in October and disembarked from SS Manila at Durban, South Africa on 19 November 1899. The 2nd Battalion provided 35 other ranks under Captain N. R. Radcliffe to form a Mounted Infantry Detachment. Sergeant Smerdon served 3 years 9 months with the Mounted Infantry Detachment in South Africa and during this time he was in action at Stormberg, Sanna’s Post and Diamond Hill, Poplar Grove, Dreifontein, Vet and Zand Rivers, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Reit Vlei and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for service with 1st Battalion Mounted Infantry in June 1900. Returning home from South Africa the battalion was stationed at Bordon Camp, Aldershot. Awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with four clasps and the King’s South Africa Medal with two clasps, he was presented with his medals by the Brigade Commander on 27 May 1903.

Smerdon transferred to the Permanent Staff of the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment in November 1903. Promoted Colour Sergeant in May 1904 he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1907. Posted to the Permanent Staff of the 6th Battalion on formation of the Territorial Force in July 1908 and permitted to continue in the Service beyond 21 years in May 1909, he was on home service throughout the Great War, being promoted Company Sergeant-Major and appointed Acting Regimental Sergeant-Major in January 1915. He was discharged in the rank of Temporary Regimental Sergeant Major on 16 January 1920 after a total service of 31 years and 82 days, and was admitted for a Royal Hospital Chelsea Out Pension whilst residing at Weir Cottage, Combe Martin, North Devon. He died in Exminster, Devon, on 19 February 1926, aged 55.

Sold with copied discharge papers and other research, including a post card photograph of Smerdon wearing medals with the 6th Battalion on parade.