The Territorial Force Efficiency Medal awarded to Company Sergeant Major F. Smith, M.C., 1st/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry on the Somme on 23 August 1916, during which he was mortally wounded, and died of his wounds the following day

Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (212 C. Sjt: F. Smith. Bucks: Bn: Oxf: & Bucks: L.I.) minor official correction to number, nearly extremely fine £200-£240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum.

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M.C. London Gazette 26 September 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry during operations. During a successful bombing attack on the enemy’s trench he showed great determination, and subsequently, when the captured trench was heavily bombarded, he was largely instrumental in maintaining the position. He has done other fine work and has always shown great coolness under fire. He has been seriously wounded.’

Frederick Smith was born at Watford, Hertfordshire, and attested for the Oxfordshire Light Infantry at Wolverton, Buckinghamshire in 1900. He served as Company Sergeant Major of “C” Company, 1st/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry during the Great War on the Western Front from 30 March 1915, and was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry on the Somme on 23 August 1916, during an attack on the enemy’s forward positions between Ovillers and Thiepval. Severely wounded in the attack, in which the Battalion suffered total casualties of 2 officers and 24 other ranks killed, and 2 officers and 71 other ranks wounded, Smith died of his wounds the following day, on 24 August 1916, and is buried in Puchevillers British Cemetery, France.

Sold with the other four medals representative of the recipient’s full entitlement, viz. Military Cross, G.V.R., this a copy; 1914-15 Star, naming erased; British War and Victory Medals, both officially named ‘26754 Pte. F. Smith. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.’ [Note: the pair, whilst correctly named, are to a different recipient]; along with the original named Record Office enclosures for the recipient’s campaign medals; cap badge and unit insignia; and copied research.