Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Boer War D.C.M. group of five awarded to Colour-Sergeant R. Smerdon, Devonshire Regiment, serving with the 1st Mounted Infantry

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.VII.R. (2194 Clr:-Serjt: R. Smerdon. 2nd Devon: Regt.); India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (2194 Sergt. R. Smerdon 1st Bn. Devon: Regt.); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (2194 Sgt. R. Smerdon, Devon: Regt.); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2194 Serjt: R. Smerdon. Devon: Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (2194 C. Sjt: R. Smerdon. Devon Regt.) light edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine (5) £1800-2200

D.C.M. London Gazette 27 September 1901:
‘Mounted Infantry, 1st Battalion, Colour-Sergeant M. [sic] Smerdon, Devonshire Regiment.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 10 September 1901.

Richard Smerdon was born at Torquay, Devon, in 1871, and enlisted into the 1st Devonshire Regiment on 28 October 1888, having had prior service in the 3rd Battalion. He was promoted to Corporal in December 1892 and to Sergeant in May 1897. He served with the 1st Battalion with the Tirah Expeditionary Force in 1897-98 (Medal with 2 clasps), and was posted to the 2nd Battalion in in April 1899. He served with the 1st Mounted Infantry in South Africa from 20 October 1899 to 21 May 1903, being awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in September 1901 (Queen’s medal with 4 clasps, King’s medal with 2 clasps). Awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal in 1907, he was posted to the 6th Battalion in July 1908, and was on home service throughout the Great War, being promoted Company Sergeant-Major and appointed Acting Regimental Sergeant-Major in January 1915. He was discharged in the rank of Temporary R.S.M. on 16 January 1920. Sold with copied discharge papers and other research, including a post card photograph of Smerdon wearing medals with the 6th Battalion on parade.