Auction Catalogue

23 June 2005

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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

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Lot

№ 650

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23 June 2005

Hammer Price:
£430

The mounted group of five miniature dress medals attributed to Major G. de H. Smith, Indian Staff Corps, late East Surrey Regiment, India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1894-5; Central Africa 1891-98, 1 clasp, Central Africa 1894-98; Queen’s Sudan 1896-97; Turkey, Order of Medjidie, 4th Class, silver, gold and enamel, rosette on ribbon; Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 7 clasps, Firket, Hafir, Abu Hamed, Sudan 1897, The Atbara, Khartoum, Sudan 1899, mounted Court style as worn, nearly extremely fine (5) £250-300

Guy de Herriez Smith was born on 29 May 1869 and entered the East Yorkshire Regiment, from the Militia, as a 2nd Lieutenant on 8 December 1888. Transferring to the East Surrey Regiment on 19 December 1888, he was promoted Lieutenant on 14 January 1891. At that rank he transferred to the Indian Staff Corps on 13 January 1892. He served with the 38th Dogras in the Waziristan Field Force under Sir William Lockhart in 1894-95. In 1895, he served in operations in Central Africa combating the slave trade, for which service he was mentioned in despatches. He then served with 11th Sudanese Battalion in the Dongola Expeditionary Force under Kitchener in 1896 and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 3 November 1896). Returning to India in 1897, he served in the campaign on the N.W. Frontier, being present at the relief of Chakdarra Fort, for which he received the India Medal with 2 clasps and was again mentioned in despatches. Returning to Africa, he took part in the Sudan Campaign of 1897-98, for which he received the Queen’s and Khedive’s medals, the Order of Medjidie and was twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 25 January 1898, 30 September 1898). On 8 December 1899 he was promoted Captain and the following day received the brevet of Major. During 1899-1900 Major Smith served in South Africa as Orderley Officer to Sir Redvers Buller.