A ‘Baltic Service 1919’ O.B.E. group of four to Paymaster Lieutenant Commander G. T. Smyth, Royal Navy, recommended for Good Service at the battle of Jutland

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; 1914-15 Star (Asst. Payr., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Payr. Lt., R.N.), mounted as worn, extremely fine (4) £240-280

O.B.E. London Gazette 12 November 1920. ‘... in recognition of valuable services rendered in the Baltic in 1919’ ‘Paymaster Lieutenant Commander, R.N.’

Recommended for Good Service London Gazette 15 September 1916, ‘Geoffrey Thomas Smyth (Secretary) (Acting Paymaster). Commodore Le Mesurier reports:- In charge of coding staff during the action, and has been of great assistance to me in every way as my secretary.’

Geoffrey Thomas Smyth was born on 21 March 1885 and entered the service in January 1903, being passed for clerk in 1904 and passed for paymaster in 1906. He was present at the battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916; for which he was ‘mentioned’ (see above). In the action he served aboard the light cruiser H.M.S. Calliope of the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron. He gained his O.B.E. as a Paymaster Lieutenant-Commander whilst serving on the cruiser H.M.S. Caledon in the Baltic. Sold with copied service papers which show him being praised and recommended for his zealous service and reliability throughout his career.