Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private J. G. Smith, Royal Army Medical Corps, later Royal Welsh Fusiliers and Lancashire Fusiliers

1914-15 Star (60133 Pte. J. G. Smith, R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (60133Pte. J. G. Smith. R.A.M.C.) contact marks, nearly very fine (3) £80-120

John G. Smith served during the Great War with the Royal Army Medical Corps in H.M. Hospital Ship Lanfranc from 16 October 1915. On 17 April 1917, whilst transporting 387 patients (of whom 167 were German Prisoners of War) from Le Harve to Southampton, she was torpedoed in the English Channel some 4 miles north-east of Le Harve by the German submarine UB-40. Some 570 survivors were picked up and subsequently transported to Southampton; total casualties were 22 British and 18 Germans. Smith transferred to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and subsequently to the Lancashire Fusiliers, and was demobilised on 21 February 1919, although it is not confirmed whether or not he was serving in the Lanfranc at the time of her sinking.