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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 210

British War Medal 1914-20 (Lt. W. H. P. Smith.), light contact marks, otherwise very fine

William Henry Pringle Smith was born at Griquatown, Hay District, Cape Colony on 28 January 1884. He was the son of William Henry Smith who was originally from Manchester, Lancashire and who moved to South Africa and died at Griquatown on 2 July 1930. Smith originally served with the Griquatown Town Guard along with his father and probably took part with the raid on Ferreira:

History of Cape Colony from the Second Anglo-Boer War

"Another disturbing factor in connexion with native affairs was the revolt of the Hottentots and Hereros in German South West Africa. In 1904 and the following years large numbers of refugees, including some of the most important chiefs, fled into British territory, and charges were made in Germany that sufficient control over these refugees was not exercised by the Cape government. This trouble, however, came to an end in September 1907. In that month Morenga, a chief who had been interned by the colonial authorities, but had escaped and recommenced hostilities against the Germans, was once more on the British side of the frontier and, refusing to surrender, was pursued by the Cape Mounted Police and killed after a smart action. The revolt in the German protectorate had been, nearly a year before the death of Morenga, the indirect occasion of a "Boer raid" into Cape Colony. In November 1906 a small party of Transvaal Boers, who had been employed by the Germans against the Hottentots, entered the colony under the leadership of a man named Ferreira, and began raiding farms and forcibly enrolling recruits. Within a week the filibusters were all captured. Ferreira and four companions were tried for murder and convicted, (February 1907), the death sentences being commuted to terms of penal servitude."

Prior to the outbreak of the Great War he served with the Mounted Rifles between 12 May 1914 - 30 June 1914 before serving with the 9th Bechuanaland Rifles from 1 July 1914 and no doubt took part in quelling the South African or Maritz rebellion of 1914 where certain elements of the population rebelled against having to side with the British and Imperial forces. Smith saw service with the 1st Composite Regiment at Cape Town between 26 March 1917 -29 June 1917 carrying out Garrison duty.

He was then appointed as Lieutenant Draft Conducting Officer for the Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport Corps. He was released from Imperial service on 12 August 1919 and reverted back to being a Lieutenant with the 9th Dismounted Rifles (Bechuanaland Rifles). Smith died at the National Hospital, Bloemfontein, Orange Free State on 11 May 1952.

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Sold for
£35

Starting price
£30