Three: Lieutenant G. L. Smith, Royal Navy, who was specially noted for services ashore in the Cameroons 1916-17 and, over a quarter of a century later, ‘mentioned’ for his services in the cruiser, H.M.S. Capetown

Three: 1914-15 Star (J. 13116 A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J. 13116 P.O., R.N.) generally very fine (3)
£100-120

George Leopold Smith was born at Fulham, London in June 1895 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in July 1911. An Able Seaman by the advent of hostilities, he was, but for several months at Vivid I between 1915-16, to serve successively off the East and West African coasts in the cruisers Cumberland, Challenger and Astraea, and in the sloop Hollyhock, until the end of 1917. During the latter appointment, as evidenced by his service record, he was selected ‘for services ashore in land operations’ and specially noted for his conduct in the Cameroons operations of 1916-17.

Remaining a regular after the War, he was appointed an Acting Gunner, R.N. in April 1924 and a Commissioned Gunner in April 1934, in which latter rank he joined the ship’s company of the cruiser Capetown in July 1939. He subsequently witnessed active service in the Mediterranean, where the Capetown had to be towed to port after being hit by a torpedo, and in the East Indies, and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 2 June 1943 refers). An appointment at the Ceylon shore establishment Lanka followed in the course of 1943 and he ended the War on miscellaneous duties at Drake back in the U.K. Smith was placed on the Retired List in late 1946.