Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

Three: Signaller J. C. Smith, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
British War and Victory Medals (T.Z.6968 Sig., R.N.V.R.); France, Croix de Guerre 1914-1916, with star on ribbon, in fitted case; this last with miniature dress medal; with identity disk ‘James Chas Smith. O.S. Tyneside, Z/6968 C.E.’

Four: Sergeant J. A. Smith Royal Air Force, missing 9 September 1943
Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, these unnamed, with card forwarding box addressed to ‘J. C. Smith, Esq., 137 Bannerdale Road, Sheffield 7’; Sheffield Old Scholars Federation, bronze medal, reverse inscribed (year and name engraved) ‘1934 Presented to John A. Smith on attaining the 1st Place at the Secondary School Examination’, in case of issue, good very fine and better (lot) £80-100

John Charles Smith was born on 26 September 1896. Employed as a Machine Knife Maker and living with his mother at 17 St. Mary’s Road, Sheffield, he entered into the R.N.V.R. on 17 August 1915 and was attached to the 5th Battalion. In November 1915 he was drafted from the Signal School Depot and posted to Chatham as an Ordinary Signaller. In December he was ranked as a Signaller. From January 1916 until the end of the war he served as such on H.M.S. Attentive. Demobilised in April 1919. With copied service papers.

An old printed label accompanying the lot, reads: ‘Signaller John Charles Smith, of 17, St. Mary’s Road, Sheffield, who since August, 1915, has been in the Royal Navy, has been awarded the Croix de Guerre with Star by the French Government. During action at Dunkirk he remained at a post of great danger when he had permission to take cover. Smith’s devoted action enabled communication with the French to be maintained. In addition to the French honour, he has also been awarded the D.S.M. for bravery on another occasion.’ Neither the D.S.M. nor the Croix de Guerre is confirmed.

Sergeant J. A. Smith, R.A.F. was serving in No. 250 Squadron, flying Kittyhawk III’s. In August 1943 the squadron was based at Agnone, Sicily. On 10 August 1943 the Operations Record Book records, ‘... Sgt. Smith attacked by 2 ME 109’s. Claim one damaged. Sgt. Smith returned to base undamaged.’ More ominously, on 9 September 1943, flying from the same base, it is recorded, ‘Sgt. Smith was missing. He called on the R.T. that his engine temperature was high, that he was North of Nicosta heading for West coast and that he would have to force land. Nothing more known.’ A related report states, ‘.... Unhappily Sgt. Smith is missing from the first show & Sgt Jordan from the second. But we have high hopes that they will both have been able to make satisfactory forced landings. Smithy called up & said he had high temperature - just before the straff, that was - so he should be O.K. ...’ With copied extracts from the Squadron Operation Record Book and a Sortie Report.