Auction Catalogue

15 December 2011

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 1045

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15 December 2011

Hammer Price:
£1,000

A good Great War D.S.O. group of five attributed to Captain H. Smith, East Yorkshire Regiment
Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. H. Smith); Defence Medal 1939-45; France, Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, with bronze palm, mounted as worn, contact marks and polished, thus nearly very fine or better (5) £1000-1200

D.S.O. London Gazette 15 October 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He had advanced his company in daylight, and without artillery preparation, some 500 yards, capturing a new line and taking prisoner one officer, sixty other ranks and four machine-guns. He assisted in the capture of strong points and sent back under heavy shell and machine-gun fire most accurate information, which enabled close liaison to be maintained with the flanks. Through his resolution and ability the operation was completely successful, with unusually few casualties.’

Henry Smith first entered the French theatre of war as a 2nd Lieutenant in the East Yorkshires in mid-June 1917, and was on attachment to the 11th Battalion from the 4th Battalion in the rank of Lieutenant at the time of winning his D.S.O. in the action at Grand Sec Bois on 12 July 1918, a rare distinction indeed for one so junior in rank - accompanying copied extracts from the unit’s war diary and post-action report by the C.O. refer in particular to Smith’s gallantry and the fact some 40 of the enemy were killed, in addition to the prisoners taken. Also the recipient of a mention in despatches (
London Gazette 27 December 1918 refers), and the Silver War Badge, Smith received his D.S.O. at a Buckingham Palace investiture on 9 November 1918.

N.B. There were four men by the name of ‘H. Smith’ who received British War & Victory Medals in the rank of Captain, though of these one was also awarded the 1914 Star and another the 1914-15 Star (
MIC records refer). The above described awards are mounted entirely as worn.