Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A poat-War ‘1953 East Coast Floods’ B.E.M. group of four awarded to Lance Bombardier G. W. Smith, Royal Artillery, late Royal Engineers, who displayed meritorious service during the worst flood to affect England and Scotland of the 20th Century

British Empire Medal, (Military) E.II.R. (22304725 L/Bmdr. Gerald W. Smith, R.A.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (14034604 Spr. G. W. Smith. R.E.) mounted as worn, good very fine (4) £240-£280

B.E.M. London Gazette 1 June 1953:
‘The Queen has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of Her Majesty’s Coronation, to approve the award of the British Empire Medal (Military Division) in recognition of meritorious service in connection with the East Coast Floods.’

Gerald William Smith served as Sapper in Palestine with the Royal Engineers and was later decorated for his valuable work as Lance Bombardier in the Royal Artillery during the North Sea Flood of 31 January-1 February 1953. Caused by extreme weather conditions of wind, high tide and low pressure, the storm surge succeeded in overwhelming flood defences along the East Anglian and Scottish coastlines, flooding land up to 5.6 metres above mean sea-level; the sudden inundation forced 30,000 people from their homes and resulted in the loss of 307 lives on land. Damage was later estimated at £50 million at 1953 prices, equivalent to approximately £1.3 billion today.

The Nottingham Journal of 1 June 1953, offers a little more detail:
‘Lance-Bombardier Gerald William Smith, of 62 Heavy A.A. Regt., Royal Artillery, Lincoln, is rewarded for his work in the East Coast floods by the B.E.M. (Military). He was a driver in the Mablethorpe and Sutton area and lived in married quarters at Lincoln Barracks. He has now been demobilised.’