Proudly sponsoring the leading medal forum

www.medalcollectors.com

Keep in touch.... join the 1000+ members today

Ref

Orders

Cond

Price £

Officer of the British Empire (OBE), Civil (2nd type), British War Medal (Lieut), India General Service Medal 1908 with 3 clasps, 'Afghanistan - NWF 1919', 'Waziristan 1919 - 21', 'Waziristan 1921 - 24' (Lt, 1/9 Gurkhas) Shanghai Municipal Council Emergency Medal 1937 (unnamed as issued). Court mounted by Spink.

Henry Malcom Smyth was born in Oxfordshire in 1898. He came of a distinguished family with a tradition of service in the East; his father was Deputy Commissioner for Burma, and his older brother, Rt. Hon. Sir Hohn Smyth, 1st Bt.,VC, PC, MC won the VC whilst serving with the Sikhs in France.

Smyth was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1917 and saw extensive service in the Frontier campaigns 1919 - 1923. In the operations against the Mahsuds around Makin in February 1923, he commanded the battalion's machinegun group and was mentioned in despatches (LG 18 Nov. 1924). He was promoted Captain and appointed Adjutant.

In 1929 he went to Riga to study Russian and qualified at Interpreter level. This was an unusual accomplishment for an Indian Army officer and one can speculate that this marked the beginning of his career in intelligence.

In 1932 he was attached to the Shanghai Municipal Police as an Assistant Commissioner, in command of the Sikh contingent of the Force. He was successful in this new role and two years later the attachment became a permanent transfer.

In 1937 hostilities between China and Japan broke out. The international concession was swamped by millions of refugees and suffered casualties when hit by poorly-aimed bombs. Smyth was awarded the OBE in the King's Birthday Honours List of 1938 for his valuable services and, in the same year, promoted to Deputy Commissioner. In August 1941 he became Acting Commissioner when the incumbent went on furlough.

On the outbreak of hostilities between Japan, the USA and the UK, Japan occupied the International Settlement but invited the senior officials of the Police and administration to remain at their posts and, with the encouragement of the British consul, Smyth did so. All the same, it was an extraordinary situation for an officer still listed on the Special Unattached List of the Indian Army, to be sending his policemen to arrest Chinese for anti-Japanese resistance activities at the same time as his former colleagues were battling the Japanese in Malaya and Burma!

In August 1942 Smyth was amongst a party of diplomats and senior officials who were repatriated via a neutral territory. Smyth was then recruited by Military Intelligence (MI 6) and returned to China, working in Chekiang, one of the liberated areas behind Japanese lines.

At the end of the war he served in Germany, first as a member of the Berlin Military Government (1945 - 46), and later with the Special Police Corps (1946 - 49). Smyth died in England in 1963.

Sold with a massive research file including a photocopy picture of Smyth as an Army officer, another in a group portrait of SMP officers; copy service papers relating to military and police service, two original pre-war postcards illustrating Sikh officers of the SMP, and much other material relating to Smyth's unique career. See attached pdf file

Gallantry/Meritoriousg

Distinguished Conduct Medal, GV first issue (987 Sjt. R. Fraser. 1/2 High: F.A. R.A.M.C.- T.F.); British Empire Medal, EIIR issue, Civil Division (Robert Fraser, D.C.M.); 1914-15 Star (987. S- Sjt. R. Fraser. R.A.M.C.); British War & Victory Medals (987 S. Sjt. A. Fraser. R.A.M.C.) and Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, GV issue (303015 S. Sjt. R. Fraser. R.A.M.C.). Staff Sergeant Robert Fraser, D.C.M., B.E.M., was born in Aberdeenshire, in 1894. He joined the Territorials in 1910 serving with the Royal Engineers, the Gordon Highlanders and subsequently served during the Great War in France and Flanders from 15/5/1915 with the Highland Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps. While serving in France in the Highland Field Ambulance Company of the 51st Highland Division he was buried by a shell during the battle of the Somme. For bravery in the field during this action General Plummer of the 2nd Army decorated Mr. Fraser with the D.C.M. at Armentieres. Early in 1918 he was sent home wounded, and on recovery was sent to Russia with the Murmansk Force under General Maynard. In 1941, he joined the A.M.W.D. as clerk of works, building Woodville Fighter Station and stayed there until 1945. Later he moved to Leicester East Bomber Station where he stayed until 1948, when he went to No. 16 Maintenance Unit. In 1952 he went to Fauld as clerk of works engineer in 1958.Fraser was presented with the B.E.M. at R.A.F. Fauld, June 1961, by Air Vice Marshal R.C. Storrar, C.B., O.B.E.. The citations/details of his decorations are as under;
D.C.M. London Gazette 20.10.1916 987 Sjt. R. Fraser, R.A.M.C

. 'For conspicuous gallantry during operations. When it was reported that stretcher bearers were in difficulty up the road, he immediately went out and, though knocked over and practically buried by a shell, brought in the party to a dressing station. He has done other fine and gallant work.'

B.E.M. London Gazette 10.6.1961 Robert Fraser, D.C.M., Clerk of Works, No.21 Maintenance Unit, Royal Air Force Fauld. (Lichfield). The group is sold with an accompanying research file including; MIC; Newspaper Article; Letters from RAMC Museum; Copy LG pages for BEM; Citation for DCM. A fine gallantry group to the 51st Highland Division.

Distinguished Conduct Medal (EDVII) (66038 Sjt. C.E. Simms, RFA) Queen's South Africa Medal 5 clasps Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (66038 Serjt. C.E. Simms, RFA), King's South Africa Medal 2 clasps South Africa 1901 & South Africa 1902 (66038 Serjt. C.E. Simms, RFA), Military Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (66038 Bty Sjt Maj Serjt. C.E. Simms, RFA), Army Meritorious Service Medal GVI (66038 WO Cl 2. C.E. Simms (DCM), RA). Also with Silver War Badge s/n 294850, Defence and War Medals ( came together with the group) and a engraved brass plaque reading:

'Presented to Batty Sergt Maj Simms by the NCOs and Men of 5th Battery RFA on his leaving the service 7 Dec 1908'

The DCM, South Africa medals and MSM are mounted as worn while other medals are separate. Seems as if at some point the MSM replaced the LSGC on the mounting.

A fascinating gallantly long service group with come with over 40 pages of service documents, details of his Mention in Despatches and his award of the MSM. Charles Edward Simms came from Luttleworth, Leicester and enlisted into the Royal Artillery at Preston on 9th January 1888 aged 18 years and a baker by trade. He was promoted Bombardier in Feb 1891, Corpl in Dec 1891, Sergt in May 1895 and Bty Sgt Major Oct 1904. He was discharged from the regular army in Feb. 1909 and immediately attested into the Leicestershire Royal Horse Artillery (TF)where he was immediately given the rank of Bty Sgt Major. He attended regular annual trainings until he was mobilized on 5th Aug 1914 as Bty Sgt Major (WO II) Royal Horse Artillery ). He was finally discharged in July 1917 after 29 years service and aged 42 years. Having been recommended for, but presumably declined, a Commission.

Bty Sgt Major Simms' Great War service was entirely in the UK which his confirmed by his MIC (copy with group) which refers only to his MSM having been awarded in 1946. There is no entitlement therefore to Great War medals other than the Silver War Badge. WW2 service of any kind cannot be confirmed.

He was mentioned in Lord Robert's despatch of 4th Sept 1901 as Sgt C. Simms, RA but listed under the Mounted Infantry section. Simms' DCM was published in the London Gazette of 27 Sept 1901 (copied) confirming that he served in and won the DCM in the 6th Btn Mounted Infantry. Possibly a unique RA DCM to the Mounted Infantry.

MIC shows WO Cl II C.E. Simms, DCM was awarded the MSM with annuity in AO 8th July 1946. SOLD

Distinguished Service Medal (GV) to Leading Seaman John William Footit, Royal Navy.Naming: Ldg Sea. "M33" Archangel River 10 Aug 1919.

DSM given for service in "Churchill's War," the invasion of Russia in 1918-19.

Footit was born in Newark, Nottinghamshire in 1884 and enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1901.

For the first part of World War I he was on the strength of Hecla, the depot ship of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla at Chatham. From March 1916 until the end of the war he served in Mesopotamia, first in the sloop Espiegle which played a prominent role in the campaign. Later he was to serve in commandeered local craft described as schooner/dhows. In April 1919 Footit was transferred to the monitor "M33" which was deployed on the Archangel River (more correctly, Dvina River) in the campaign against the Bolsheviks. Over the summer the British forces engaged in many battles with the "Bolos." A major attack was fixed for 10 August 1919 in preparation for the British retreat from the area. M33 and other monitors and gunboats carried out a heavy bombardment resulting in the complete success of the operation.

Footit retired to pension in 1924.

Sold with a comprehensive research dossier including copy service papers, original postcards of Espiegle and M33, maps and details of the operation.

(Note: M33 was later named HMS Minerva. She survived to the present day and is currently under restoration at Portsmouth Dockyard).

Military Medal. GV first issue (MS-933 Pte. G.C. Dickens, MT ASC); 1914 Star, British War and Victory Medals (MS-933 Pte. G.C. Dickens, ASC). Come with Silver War Badge. Gilbert Charles Dickens was born in Paddington and enlisted at Weybridge, he entered France on 23rs Spet 1914.. He was awarded the MM for service in France in LG 6th August 1918 while attached to the 16th Field Ambulance RAMC. Pte Dickens died of wounds at home on 16th Feb 1919 and is buried in Paddington Cemetery. He was the son of Mr C.W. Dickens, 9 Woodside Cottages, Waverley Raod, Weybridge, Surrey. With copies of MICs, LG and Soldiers Died.

Commonwealth War Graves Details

SOLD

Indian Distinguished Service Medal (Gazette of India, 4 May 1923)

"For gallantry and distinguished conduct while serving with the Razmak Field Force"

Full medal entitlement:

Order of British India, 2nd Class
Indian Distinguished Service Medal (GV) (Havr, 2-13 FF Rjls)
1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Indian General Service Medal 1908 with clasps "Waziristan 1921-24", "North West Frontier 1930-31"
Indian General Service Medal 1936 with clasp ''North West Frontier 1936-37"
1939-45 Star
Burma Star
War Medal 1939-45
Coronation Medal 1937*

Enlisted 7 May 1914
Havildar (before Feb. 1922)
Jemadar 1 Jan 1923
Subadar 1 Sept 1928
2nd Lt 1 April 1942
(Later Honorary Lieutenant)

Daftar Khan was a Punjabi Moslem, born on 21 August 1898. He enlisted in the 56th Rifles on 7 May 1914, when he was not yet sixteen, and served with this regiment in France during the First World War.

With extensive research click here to see more. SOLD

Chief Yeoman of Signals Arthur Patrick Brickel, Royal Navy was born in London in 1882 and enlisted in the RN in 1897. From 1910 to 1917 he served in the battleship Zealandia which was deployed in the Thames Estuary and in the eastern Mediterranean. In October 1918 he was drafted to the light cruiser Cleopatra which formed part of Admiral Tyrwhitt's famous "Harwich Force." The following year she was deployed in the Baltic and took part in the blockade of Kronstadt. For much of the period she was the flagship of that noted fire-eater, Admiral Cowan. In his dispatch at the end of the campaign, Cowan recorded "the spirit in the ship from first to last - and Cleopatra of all ships has been with me the longest, and has seen every other ship in the force arrive and go back again to England - has been a golden example of what naval discipline, combined with perfect understanding and trust between officers and men, can show for the honour of our service, and in waters where day by day most mischievous and specious propaganda are circulated."

Referring specially to Brickel, Admiral Cowan recommended him for the MSM "for specially meritorious service in Cleopatra during seven months' service in the Gulf of Finland."

Brickel retired to pension in 1922.

The Royal Naval MSM was introduced in 1919 and discontinued in 1928 although no awards were made after 1923. During this time 1022 were awarded. This medal was formerly in the Douglas - Morris collection.

Military General Service Medal clasps Abuhera, Vittoria & Pyrenees named George Greenwood, 34th Foot. With research and copy of discharge papers, clasps confirmed in WO 100/6 served with Capt Gibbons Company. 8 men including Greenwood received the 3 clasp combination. With photocopy of Chapter VI of Regimental History 'Tried & Valiant' covering the Peninsula War.

George Greenwood was born in Halifax and enlisted at Halifax on 19th April 1805 at the age of 26. He was discharged due to the lose of sight in one eye on 16th July 1823. Provenance: Glendining's 17th. April 1964 # 63.RESERVED

Queens South Africa Medal clasp Cape Colony named to 837 D.J. Du Plessis, W. Prov. MR - Western Province Mounted Rifles. A scarce example of a QSA to possibly a Boer extraction recipient

The Du Plessis family in South Africa

£155

£20

Queen's Vietnam Logistics Medal unnamed as issued. Note the authenticity if this medal is verified in writing by Staff Officer Policy Research, Directorate of Honours and Awards, Australia.

Captain George Thomas Sullivan RN was born 1889, in Plymouth. Enlisted 1905 as a Boy Artificer. In 1912 he was posted to Lion at the beginning of her maiden commission. In 1913 she became flagship of Admiral Sir David Beatty, commanding the battlecruiser squadron. He was still serving in her on 28 August 1914 at the Battle of the Heligoland Bight.
In 1913 the Navy introduced the Mate scheme to enable promising ratings to get commissions. In 1914 this was extended to the engineering branch and Sullivan was one of the first batch of 14 to be appointed Acting Mate.
In December 1914 he was posted to the battleship Marlborough and served in her at the Battle of Jutland. She was the only battleship of the RN to be torpedoed, and suffered a few casualties. Marlborough saw more action than most of the Battle Fleet and is credited with many hits on the enemy.
Sullivan later served in other battleships including Agincourt, Resolution and Centurion. He received steady promotion and retired in 1937 with the rank of Commander.
He was recalled in 1939 and promoted Captain (E). He worked as a gun-mounting overseer at Vickers Armstrong's shipyards on the Tyne under the Director of Naval Ordnance. He retired again at the end of the war and died in 1961.
It was very rare for anyone who joined as a rating to be commissioned, let alone reach the rank of Captain.
Sold with service record, research and original postcard of Marlborough from about 1914. SOLD

1914-15 Star (Sto.1), British War Medal and Victory Medal (L. Sto. C. Churchward), RN Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, GV (L.Sto. C. Churchward HMS Vivid).

Cleo Churchward was born in Plymouth in 1894 and entered the RN as a Stoker in 1912. On completing his basic training, in January 1913 he was drafted to the New Zealand, the ship in which he was to serve for the next 6 years.

New Zealand was a battlecruiser completed in 1912. She was paid for by New Zealand and visited that country in 1913. In the summer of 1914 she made a goodwill visit to Russia.

New Zealand took part in the three main North Sea battles of the Great War, i.e. the Heligoland Bight (28 August 1914), the Dogger Bank (24 January 1915), in which she helped to sink a German armoured cruiser, and Jutland (31 May 1916) in which three British battlecruiser were blown up and lost with nearly all hands.

After the war, Churchward had two tours of duty in HMS Hood and also served in the battlecruiser Tiger.

Sold with service papers and other research material.

In September 1915 Wood was transferred to Mesopotamia where he served on two 'Fly' class gunboats, Greenfly and Stonefly. These vessels had a displacement of 98 tons and crew of 22, and supported the Army in its advance up the Tigris towards Baghdad.

In July 1916 Wood apparently suffered heat stroke. He was evacuated first to Basra, then to Bombay. After catching malaria as well, he was repatriated to the UK. He recovered and served for the remainder of the war in an Admiralty Whaler.

Sold with a substantial research file including copy service papers, original old postcards of Alsatian and a Fly class gunboat and other illustrations, maps etc.

Gillespie was born in 1888 in Sunderland, Durham, and was a hall porter. He enlisted in the RN in April 1915 and was posted to HMS Raglan, a monitor equipped with two 14 inch guns. She was deployed in the eastern Mediterranean.

On 20 January 1918 the former German battlecruiser Goeben and cruiser Breslau (both with new Turkish names) unexpectedly broke out of the Dardanelles. There was a brief gun-battle in which Raglan and a smaller vessel were sunk with heavy casualties (3 officers and 119 ratings from Raglan were lost). However, the two German/Turkish ships then ran into a minefield and were themselves sunk.

Gillespie was one of those killed in the action. Sold with copy service papers, a photo of Raglan and research.

Commonwealth War Graves Details SOLD

Samuel Workman was born in Glasgow and enlisted into the Highland Light Infantry at Glasgow. He died at home on 22nd April.1940 (probably from wounds) and is buried at Glasgow's Riddrie Park Cemetery. Medals have been swing mounted.

Commonwealth War Graves Details

1939-45 Star Royal Navy, Atlantic Star, Africa Star, War Medal . Leading Stoker William Buckingham, medals un-named as issued, but sold with original Admiralty condolence slip with Buckingham's name, and box of issue addressed to his father.

William Buckingham was born in or around 1919 in Clowne, Derbyshire. He was KIA on 19 December 1941, aged 22, when his ship, HMS Neptune, was sunk off the North African coast. He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

Neptune was a Leander class cruiser, launched in 1933. She saw a good deal of action in the early years of the war, her battle honours included 'Atlantic 1939', ' Calabria 1940', 'Mediterranean 1940', 'Bismarck Action 1941' and 'Malta Convoys 1941'.

In 1941 Neptune was part of Force K, a squadron based at Malta which enjoyed great success in sinking Axis supply vessels on the route from Italy to Libya. On 19 December 1941 Force K sailed to intercept an enemy convoy but, about 20 miles from Tripoli, it entered into a minefield. After striking four mines Neptune was sunk. A destroyer which went to her assistance suffered the same fate. Out of her ship's company of 765, there was only one survivor, who spent five days in the water before being rescued. In terms of loss of life, this was the second greatest disaster suffered by the Mediterranean Fleet in World War II. (link to www.hmsneptune.com) Sold with some research and a fine Wright & Logan postcard of HMS Neptune.

Commonwealth War Graves Details

UK60

Miles was born in Reading in 1905, and enlisted as a Stoker on his 18th birthday after brief service as a Boy Seaman. In his early years he served in the battleships Iron Duke, Warspite and Centurion.

He was awarded his Long Service Medal in April 1940. At that time he was serving in Hong Kong in HMS Redstart, a small minelayer. On the Japanese invasion in December 1941, Redstart was scuttled to avoid capture. Miles' fate is unknown.

Sold with small research file including copy service papers (up to 1928) and a photo of Redstart. SOLD

Proudly sponsoring the leading medal forum

www.medalcollectors.com

Keep in touch.... join the 1000+ members today