Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Great War D.S.O., O.B.E. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel S. B. Smith, Royal Army Medical Corps

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt (hallmarks for London 1919); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (Captn. S. B. Smith R.A.M.C.); 1914-15 Star (Major S. B. Smith. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. S. B. Smith.), mounted court style as worn, good very fine and better (6) £1400-1800

Provenance: Colonel D. G. B. Riddick Collection to the Medical Services, Dix Noonan Webb, March 2007.

D.S.O. London Gazette 4 June 1917.

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

M.I.D. London Gazette 29 May 1917 and 10 July 1919.

Samuel Boylan Smith was born at Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow on 12 December 1872, and was educated at Dublin University. Entering the Army as a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps in November 1900, he was promoted to Captain in November 1903. He served in West Africa, 1901-02 and India, 1903-08, taking part in the operations in Mohmand country. Promoted to Major in August 1912, he served as Acting Lieutenant-Colonel, April-May 1918 and was promoted to that rank in October 1918. During the Great War he served in France, 1915-17, when he was wounded in action, and was again in France during 1918-19. For his service during the Great War he was twice Mentioned in Despatches, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Post-war he served in Ceylon, 1919-22 and later in Hong Kong. Lieutenant-Colonel Smith was placed on Retired Pay on 12 December 1927 and died at Prestwick on 13 December 1944.