Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Lieutenant C. W. M. Smith, Manchester Regiment, later King’s African Rifles and Royal Air Force who was killed in an aero accident in 1925

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. C. W. M. Smith.) mounted court-style for display, nearly extremely fine (2) £70-£90

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

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Cecil William Montague Smith was born at Kempsford, Bedfordshire, in November 1896 and attended Battersea Polytechnic Institute, obtaining a job as a Clerk for one of the Members of Lloyd’s of London. Being under age at the outbreak of War he attested for service on 13 September 1915 and was posted to the Inns of Court O.T.C., being appointed to a commission in the 27th (Reserve) Battalion Manchester Regiment on 4 August 1916. He was posted overseas to join the 2nd Battalion at Fresnoy on 27 February 1917 and served in ‘A’ Company and was present when the 2nd Battalion captured the German Guns at St. Quentin. He was wounded by a gun shot to the chin and evacuated to the U.K. in April 1917.

On 8 October 1917 Smith was promoted Temporary Lieutenant and posted to the General List for service with the 3rd Battalion, King’s African Rifles, serving as musketry officer and bombing officer. He resigned his commission on 6 April 1923. On 30 June 1924 he was granted a short service commission as a probationer Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force, and was confirmed in that rank on 30 December 1924. He was tragically killed in an aero accident on 20 November 1925, whilst training at the Armament and Gunnery School at Eastchurch, Kent, when his Gloster Glebe Aircraft crashed into the sea off Leysdown.

Sold with copied service papers and extensive research.