Auction Catalogue

4 July 2001

Starting at 12:00 PM

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Miniature Medals

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 1040

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4 July 2001

Hammer Price:
£3,200

An excessively rare Great War D.S.M. and Second War Bar group of ten awarded to Petty Officer Fred Smith, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (J.28911 A.B. H.M.S. Laburnam 1917) with Second Award Bar; 1914-15 Star (J.28911 Ord. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.28911 A.B. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, clasp North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; War Medal; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue with fixed suspension (J.28911 L.S. H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth) mounted as worn, the first four considerably polished and worn, therefore fine, otherwise about very fine or better (10) £2500-3000

D.S.M. London Gazette 6 April 1918: ‘For services in vessels of the Royal Navy employed on patrol and escort duty during the period 1st January to 31st December 1917.’

Bar to D.S.M.
London Gazette 8 September 1942: ‘For gallantry, skill and seamanship in H.M. Ships ...Dulverton... in a brilliant action against strong enemy forces, which were driven off and severely damaged. This action resulted in the safe passage to Malta of an important convoy.’

One of only two instances of a man winning a Bar in the Second World War to the D.S.M. from the Great War. One other man was gazetted with a second D.S.M. by mistake instead of a bar, thus making only three such double awards embracing both wars. Fred Smith’s Bar was awarded for Admiral Vian’s brilliant victory over Italian naval forces on 22 March 1942, in what came to be known as the Second Battle of Sirte. Sold with copy service record and other research.