Lieutenant James Smith Royal Fusiliers & Cheshire Regiment
1914-15 Star. 1914-18 British War Medal. Victory Medal.
The Man James Smith joined the 19th Battalion (2nd Public Schools) Royal Fusiliers, that had been raised at Epsom by the Public School and University Men’s Forces on 11th September 1914. He joined after the outbreak of World War 1 and a private with service number PS-7340.They were posted to Clipstone Camp during June 1915 as part of the 98th Brigade, 33rd Division which was subsequently taken over by the War Office on 1st July 1917. They moved to Tidworth in August 1915 and landed in France during November 1915, James date of entry was 14th November. They became a part of General Headquarters Troops on 27th / 28th February 1916 and the Battalion was eventually disbanded on 24th April 1916 as many of the men had gone on to take Commissions, as had James who was Commissioned on 25th September 1916 as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the 12th Cheshire Regiment. He was injured or contracted an illness as a result of the war and was awarded the Silver War Badge on 14th April 1919. On 26th April 1919 he was discharged on account of ill health contracted on active service and retained the rank of Lieutenant. Following the war he lived in Bulkington, Nuneaton.
The Story There is not a lot to say about the research on this set of medals, but they are of interest as the 1914-15 Star and Victory Medal were given to me by a friend of the family back in June 1978. The person who gave them had herself inherited them from her Father who had been an antique dealer in Leamington Spa. Nothing was done with the medals for over 30 years, in fact they weren't even cleaned or re-ribboned and it as only once the medal index card became available on ancestry.com and the London Gazettes on the internet that any serious research was undertaken. The only detail so far is that above, however it was decided that as this is a broken group with a little provenance to 'make it up' using an unnamed medal. Therefore an erased British War Medal and a separately numbered Silver War Badge, No 218244 were acquired in order to make up a full representation.
This group of medals is one I have only been able to find a minimal amount of detail on. They are in effect 'work in progress' as one day something additional may well be uncovered. Please feel free to contact me should you know of, or have any information on this man or his missing British War Medal
The Story There is not a lot to say about the research on this set of medals, but they are of interest as the 1914-15 Star and Victory Medal were given to me by a friend of the family back in June 1978. The person who gave them had herself inherited them from her Father who had been an antique dealer in Leamington Spa. Nothing was done with the medals for over 30 years, in fact they weren't even cleaned or re-ribboned and it as only once the medal index card became available on ancestry.com and the London Gazettes on the internet that any serious research was undertaken. The only detail so far is that above, however it was decided that as this is a broken group with a little provenance to 'make it up' using an unnamed medal. Therefore an erased British War Medal and a separately numbered Silver War Badge, No 218244 were acquired in order to make up a full representation.
This group of medals is one I have only been able to find a minimal amount of detail on. They are in effect 'work in progress' as one day something additional may well be uncovered. Please feel free to contact me should you know of, or have any information on this man or his missing British War Medal
Medal Details:
- 1914-15 Star: PS-7340 J.SMITH R.FUS
- 1914-18 British War Medal: Erased
- Victory Medal: LT.J.SMITH
- Silver Wound Badge: 218244 -not attributable
This page last updated 13 Mar 17