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Auction: 22103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals VII - e-Auction
Lot: 583

(x) 'It is impossible for me to express the sorrow I feel at the poor boy's death. I knew him first when he was being trained under me as a Lewis gunner. He was clever, willing and active, and became a "First Class Gunner" at his first attempt. I took him into my gun section a fortnight after we landed in France and he has been with me ever since, and has proved himself a first class gunner and man. He was always cheery in all circumstances and it was a pleasure to meet him in the trenches as one was always certain of a happy smile of welcome. He was greatly beloved by his own gun train and also by the whole Lewis gun section. His own particular friend, Pte. Hine, is heart-broken. I am expressing the sentiments of all who knew him, his Colonel, Capt. Davenport, his Sergeant, his comrades, and my own, when I say we all deplore his loss as that of a lion-hearted soldier and a cheerful and true friend.'

A letter by Lieutenant & Lewis Gun Officer G. H. G. Shepard to Miss Smith, refers

Three: Private L. Smith, 'B' Company, 2/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was killed by a trench mortar during the Battle of the Somme on 25 July 1916

British War and Victory Medals (4145 Pte. L. Smith. Oxf.&Bucks. L. I.); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Leonard Smith), good very fine (3)

Leonard Smith was born at Garsington, Oxford in 1897, the son of Thomas and Lily Smith of 42 Crescent Road, Cowley, Oxford. Enlisting at Oxford he joined 'B' Company, 2nd/4th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry he was serving with them in France during the Somme Offensive. Here he served with the Company Lewis Gun section. The 2nd/4th Battalion went into the attack for the first time on 19 July on the Somme, Smith survived this action only to die several days later, a letter from his commanding officer states:

'About 7.30 last night when a German trench-mortar shell fell right on the dug-out. Your brother was only about 2 yards away from it and a large piece of the shell entered his back and killed him almost immediately. The Doctor tells me he could not have felt any pain at all as the shock rendered him unconscious at once.'

Smith died on 25 July and was buried at the Pont-Du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue' sold together with an original letter from Lieutenant & Lewis Gun Officer G. H. G. Shepard, an original letter entitled 'Somewhere in Palestine' and several photographs of the recipient and his time in the trenches as well as an active service card, graves registration card and a copied photograph of the recipient's grave as well as a copied M.I.C. and Commonwealth War Graves details.


Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£160

Starting price
£100