Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Brigadier I. V. R. Smith, Royal Artillery, who was twice Mentioned in Despatches, and was killed in action at the Battle of Monte Cassino, 26 March 1944

1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 1st Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, with named Army Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. L. G. Smith, 1 St. Mary’s Grove, Barnes, London, SW13’, extremely fine (5) £240-280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties.

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Ivan Victor Russell Smith was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 26 May 1916. He was advanced Major and acting Lieutenant-Colonel on 24 May 1938, and served during the Second World War with the Royal Artillery as part of the British Expeditionary Force. He was wounded in action on 6 June 1940, possibly in the retreat from Le Harve, and was Mentioned in Despatches for ‘Services in the Field, March to June 1940’ (London Gazette 20 December 1940). He subsequently served with the 1st Army in North Africa, and was again Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 27 January 1944). Promoted Acting Brigadier on 13 December 1943, he was killed in action at the Battle of Monte Cassino on 26 March 1944.

Smith was aged 47 at the time of his death. He is buried in Cassino War Cemetery, Italy. His medals were sent to his widow Laura Georgina Smith.