Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1916 ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of three awarded to Private E. Smith, 14th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry

Military Medal, G.V.R. (29301 Pte. E. Smith, 14/High: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (29301 Pte. E. Smith. High. L.I.) edge bruise to MM, light contact marks, very fine (3) £200-£240

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Highland Light Infantry.

View
Collection

M.M. London Gazette 21 September 1916.
The original citation, published in the Battalion War Diary, states: ‘When the communication was broken with the right Company at Loos, he remained on duty for 39 hours and repaired the wires. He volunteered for this duty and refused to be relieved. The lines had to be laid across the open because the trench had been blown in under a heavy bombardment and he succeeded single handed in laying a new system of wires.’

Ernest Smith attested for the Highland Light Infantry and served with the 14th (Bantams) Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from June 1916. He was the first man of the battalion to be awarded the Military Medal.