Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Battle of the Somme’ D.C.M. group of four awarded to Company Sergeant Major F. Smith, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, for his gallantry during a night attack at Mametz; he was later killed in action in Belgium on 1 October 1917

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7224 Sjt: F. Smith. 1/R.W. Fus:); 1914 Star (7224 Pte. F. Smith. R.W. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (7224 W.O.Cl.2. F. Smith. R.W. Fus.) very fine and better (4) £800-£1,000

D.C.M. London Gazette 19 August 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry during a night attack. He rallied the men of a company which had lost its direction, and led them forward under rifle and machine-gun fire, capturing and consolidating a portion of the enemy’s trench.’
Annotated Gazette states: ‘Mametz’.

Frederick Smith, a painter, was born in Salford in 1883 and attested for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Birkenhead on 1 October 1902; his Army Service Record notes a number of minor indiscretions, notably improper conduct and gambling, prior to transfer to Army Reserve. Recalled at the outbreak of the Great War, Smith served in France with the 1st Battalion from 20 September 1914, being present during the “Race to the Sea” which culminated in the Battalion reaching Zeebrugge at 9 a.m. on 7 October 1914. Transferred to Ypres, his Battalion was soon engaged in heavy fighting during the Battle of Langemarck from 21-24 October 1914 and was involved in a ‘fearful slaughter’ of German infantry at Zandvoorde village a few days later (The Records of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, refers).

Advanced Sergeant, Smith witnessed the attack of 1 July 1916 between Mametz and Fricourt on the Somme; in spite of an Allied artillery bombardment described as ‘drumfire’ - a stupendous noise of pandemonium of a seismic nature - the enemy remained very much alive in their dugouts and within minutes brought their machine guns to action as the barrage lifted. Raked by bullets, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers suffered heavy casualties and were soon seeking shelter and rest in the valley near Mametz village. The survivors later fought at Delville Wood and were made ‘exceedingly uncomfortable’ by the shelling from a German long-range gun whilst in camp on 31 August 1916.

Smith survived the attrition of the Somme and was advanced Company Sergeant Major on 26 September 1916. Transferred to the quagmire battlefield of Ypres, he was killed in action in October 1917 when 3 Battalions of German infantry launched a surprise early morning assault on the front line trenches held by the 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers; the attack was driven off by 7 a.m., but with significant casualties of 1 officer killed, another wounded, with 27 other ranks killed, 67 wounded and 4 missing in action (The Battalion War Diary, refers). Aged 34 years, Smith has no known grave and is commemorated upon the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

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