Orders, Decorations and Medals

British Empire Leave Club Certificate, mounted on card, 253 x 189mm., ‘British Empire Leave Club, Cologne, British Army of Occupation, 12th May 1919 to 31st March 1920. The London Committee desire to place on record their high appreciation of the Excellent Services rendered by Miss M. J. Smieton, Croix de Guerre, and Bronze Star. London, April 30, 1920. [Signature] Chairman’, slightly damaged, fairly good condition; sold together with a French Croix de Guerre 1914-1916, with bronze star on ribbon, this good very fine £30-50

The British Empire Leave Club was an organisation established by worthy British women in Cologne to cater for the troops of the British Army of Occupation who were on leave. It had a restaurant and it organised concerts, dances, outings, debates, German language classes etc.

Maude Isolde Smieton, from Seaborne, Broughton Ferry, Dundee, was employed during the Great War in the Dundee Comfort for the Troops Supply Depot and the Dundee Munitions Canteen. She was then employed, firstly as an Orderly, then as an Assistant Bacteriologist in the Scottish Women’s Hospitals at Royaumont and Villers Cotteret, 4 July 1916-22 March 1919. For her services in the Scottish Women’s Hospital, she was awarded the Croix de Guerre with bronze star. Following her service in the hospitals, she was then employed by the British Empire Leave Club in organising and leading tours around the city of Cologne. She later married, becoming Lady Sanderson. It is believed that her full medal group consisted of the British War and Victory Medals; Scottish Women’s Hospital Medal; Croix de Guerre and Cross of the Societe de Secours aux Blesses Militaires. Sold with some copied research.