Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lance-Corporal A. H. Smith, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), who was killed in action during an attack at High Wood, in the Battle of the Somme, on 22 July 1916, on which date his Battalion suffered over 400 casualties

1914-15 Star (L-10621. Pte. A. H. Smith. R.W. Kent R.); British War and Victory Medals (L-10621 Pte. A. H. Smith. R.W. Kent R.); Memorial Plaque (Arthur Harold Smith) in card envelope, traces of remnants of solder to reverse of plaque, otherwise extremely fine (4) £120-£160

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

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Provenance: Acquired by the vendor directly from the recipient’s family.

Arthur Harold Smith was born in Maidstone, Kent, and attested for the Royal West Kent Regiment at Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey, on 30 December 1914. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 1 May 1915, and was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme on 22 July 1916. On this date the Battalion was involved in an attack on Wood Lane, at High Wood. Advancing up the eastern side of High Wood at 9:52 p.m. they were met with heavy enemy machine gun fire which soon brought the attack to a standstill, with almost all the officers casualties, and they were withdrawn at dawn, having suffered a total of 421 casualties.

Smith was amongst those killed. He is buried in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, France.

Sold with copied research.