The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

Four: Brigadier-General F. A. Smith, Indian Army, latterly commanding the 2nd Rajputs
India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Chin-Lushai 1889-90 (Lieut. F. A. Smith, 3d Bl. Infy.); India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897, Tirah 1897-98 (Captn., 2d Bl. Lt. Infy.) unofficial connections between clasps; China 1900, no clasp (Captn., 2d Rajput Lt. Infy.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-14 (Lt. Col., 2nd Rajputs, H.M.S. Pelorus) edge bruising, contact marks, nearly very fine and better, rare combination (4) £1800-2200

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

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Frederick Alexander Smith was born on 18 March 1864. First commissioned in the Yorkshire Light Infantry on 7 February 1885. Appointed to the Bengal Staff Corps, Indian Army, in March 1888. Posted to the 2nd Rajput Light Infantry as a Wing Officer in September 1888. Served on the N.E. Frontier of India, Chin-Lushai 1889-90 (medal with clasp). Appointed Adjutant in 1894 and Captain in February 1896. Served on the N.W. Frontier of India 1897-8, with the Kohat Kurrum force and in Tirah, 1897-98, including the actions of Chagru Kotal and Dargai (medal with 3 clasps). Appointed a Couble Company Commander in May 1900 and was present with the 2nd Rajputs in the campaign in China, 1900 (medal). Smith was promoted to Major in February 1903, was ranked as 2 i/c/ of the 2nd Rajputs in August 1907 and became a Lieutenant-Colonel and their commander in February 1910. Smith qualified for the Naval General Service medal as Commanding Officer of the detachment of 2nd Rajputs, borne for duty on H.M.S. Pelorus in June 1913 for services during the punitive operations against the Tangistani. Only 17 army officers received the Naval medal for the Persian Gulf operations. During the Great War he was promoted to Colonel (Hon. Brigadier-General in February 1915 and was appointed Brigadier-General & Commandant of the Secunderbad Infantry Brigade in June 1916. Smith served in Egypt between 15 November 1914 and 12 February 1916, for which he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 21 June 1916) awarded the brevet of Colonel and awarded the Serbian Order of St. Sava, 5th Class. Additionally awarded the 1914-15 Star trio. Smith retired on 1 March 1921 but was Colonel of the 1/7th Rajput Regiment (late 2nd Rajputs) from August 1921 until his death on 12 August 1945. With copied research.