The Collection of Medals Formed by Bill and Angela Strong

Pair: Private L. Smith, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, killed in action, 25 July 1916

British War and Victory Medals (4145 Pte., Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.); Memorial Plaque (Leonard Smith) extremely fine (3)
£180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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Leonard Smith was born in Garsington, Oxford, lived at Cuddesdon and enlisted at Oxford. Serving in “B” Company, 2nd/4th Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, he was killed in action on 25 July 1916, aged 19 years. He was buried in the Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, Nord, France. Private Smith was the son of Thomas and Lily Smith of 42 Crescent Road, Cowley, Oxford.

With a typed letter from Lieutenant George H. G. Shepherd to his sister, dated 26 July 1916. ‘It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you of the death of your dear brother Len. About 7.30 last night (Tuesday) he was coming out of his dug-out in the front line trenches when a German trench-mortar shell fell right on the dug-out. Your brother was only about 2 yards away from it and a large piece of the shell entered his back and killed him almost immediately. The Doctor tells me he could not have felt any pain at all as the shock rendered him unconscious at once. ..... He will be buried this afternoon in a little British cemetery within a mile of the firing line where he fought and fell so gallantly, .....’

Also with original photographs of the recipient and his original grave marker, four other photographs; a letter from another brother (?), from ‘Somewhere in Palestine Sept. 12/[19]18’ and a cap badge.