Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A well documented State of New York Great War Campaign Pair attributed to First Lieutenant W. J. Goldsmith, Ordnance Department, United States Army, together with an associated Mexican Border Service and Great War group of seven miniatures

United States of America, State of New York Great War Service Medal 1917-19; State of New York Medal for Faithful State Service in the Field During the World War 1917-1919, reverse impressed ‘4517’, very fine, together with a set of miniature awards: Mexican Border Service Medal 1918; Victory Medal 1914-18 with citation star; Army of Occupation of Germany Medal; State of New York 1916-17 Mexican Border Service Medal; State of New York Medal for Faithful State Service in the Field During the World War 1917-1919; State of New York Great War Service Medal 1917-19; American Legion Medal, mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (9) £140-£180

Walter Jordan Goldsmith was born on 23 April 1894 in New York City, United States of America. He qualified for the Mexican Border Service Medal for service in the period May 1916 to April 1917 and was enlisted for active service in the United States Army on 23 July 1917. Having been commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army on 23 August 1917, he embarked for France from Hoboken, New Jersey on 26 November and served in France and Belgium during the Great War with the Ordnance Department, American Expeditionary Force. During his final eleven months of service overseas, Goldsmith served at the Main Supply Depot of the Motor Transport Corps. He was promoted First Lieutenant and was honourably discharged at Governor’s Island, New York on 30 August 1919.

Goldsmith lived in England in later life and was admitted to the Osborne House King Edward VII’s Convalescent Home for Officers in 1971. He died in Wandsworth, London in 1984.

Sold with a folder containing a quantity of photographs, documents and testimonies relating to the recipient’s military service, including a fine portrait photograph, 20cm x 26cm, of the recipient in uniform; the recipient’s original A.E.F. identity card with photograph; 20 loose photographs taken during the recipient’s service during and immediately after the Great War; a family photograph album also containing some family records; the recipient’s leather wallet embossed with his name and containing riband bar; Great War whistle with chain and hook; and other ephemera.