Divisional Officer Rex William Philemon Smith SBStJ Royal Air Force and St John Ambulance
The Man Rex William Philemon Smith was born on Monday 23rd April 1923 in Northampton, son of Frank L P a Lorry Driver and Lily nee Fairey, he had one sibling.
The 1939 Register shows the family living at 94 Kingsthorpe Grove, Northampton with Frank as an Air Raid Warden and Rex aged 16 as an ARP Messenger and also joined the St John Ambulance Brigade in about 1940. Following the start of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Frank was too young to enlist, but when aged 18 in April 1941 joined the Royal Air Force with service number 1494589, serving at home for the duration of the conflict and maintaining his membership of the SJAB. After the war he was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
During the second quarter of 1946 in Northampton Rex married Vera Doreen Green, it is unknown if they had any children.
On 19th May 1947 Rex was promoted to Corporal in the SJAB, Honorary Sergeant and Divisional Secretary on 25th May 1948 in the Kingsthorpe Division, Nottingham. He also enrolled into the Civil Defence Service on 14th May 1953.
His responsibilities within St John included First Aid lectures and examinations to youth organisations, including the Boys’ Brigade and Scouts and he also organised and was secretary for the training wing of the St John Ambulance Association and an ambulance driver.
Rex was promoted to substantive Sergeant on 12th September 1955, the same year he was awarded his Service Medal of the Order of St John. Promoted to Divisional Officer on 12th January 1960 and awarded the first clasp to his service medal, followed by two further clasps in 1965 and 1970.
Rex was admitted as a Serving Brother of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem on 15th May 1963, this appearing in the London Gazette of 2nd July. In 1970 he was awarded his Civil Defence Long Service Medal.
Rex and Vera lived at 51 Thornaby Drive, Nothampton and Vera passed away in May 1996 and John aged 75 on 20th June 1998 in Northampton.
The 1939 Register shows the family living at 94 Kingsthorpe Grove, Northampton with Frank as an Air Raid Warden and Rex aged 16 as an ARP Messenger and also joined the St John Ambulance Brigade in about 1940. Following the start of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Frank was too young to enlist, but when aged 18 in April 1941 joined the Royal Air Force with service number 1494589, serving at home for the duration of the conflict and maintaining his membership of the SJAB. After the war he was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
During the second quarter of 1946 in Northampton Rex married Vera Doreen Green, it is unknown if they had any children.
On 19th May 1947 Rex was promoted to Corporal in the SJAB, Honorary Sergeant and Divisional Secretary on 25th May 1948 in the Kingsthorpe Division, Nottingham. He also enrolled into the Civil Defence Service on 14th May 1953.
His responsibilities within St John included First Aid lectures and examinations to youth organisations, including the Boys’ Brigade and Scouts and he also organised and was secretary for the training wing of the St John Ambulance Association and an ambulance driver.
Rex was promoted to substantive Sergeant on 12th September 1955, the same year he was awarded his Service Medal of the Order of St John. Promoted to Divisional Officer on 12th January 1960 and awarded the first clasp to his service medal, followed by two further clasps in 1965 and 1970.
Rex was admitted as a Serving Brother of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem on 15th May 1963, this appearing in the London Gazette of 2nd July. In 1970 he was awarded his Civil Defence Long Service Medal.
Rex and Vera lived at 51 Thornaby Drive, Nothampton and Vera passed away in May 1996 and John aged 75 on 20th June 1998 in Northampton.
The Story The medal group awarded to Rex William Philemon Smith were acquired from Noonan’s Auction on 15th May 2024 and of interest because of the double long service combination.
A letter within the lot from the St John Museum in 1998, together with Ancestry, Wills, London Gazette and the Newspaper Archives enabled a brief biography to be pieced together.
A sadly, brief story of a man who appears to have so much for the St John Ambulance Brigade and Civil Defence Service.
A letter within the lot from the St John Museum in 1998, together with Ancestry, Wills, London Gazette and the Newspaper Archives enabled a brief biography to be pieced together.
A sadly, brief story of a man who appears to have so much for the St John Ambulance Brigade and Civil Defence Service.
Medal Details:
- Serving Brother of the Order of St John: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Civil Defence Long Service Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Service Medal of the Order of St John: Unnamed as awarded.
This page last updated 9 Jun 24
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