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Original World War One Medal Pair, Pte Smith, Berkshire Regiment, KIA 1st Day of the Somme

Code: MZ41444

Website: https://www.militariazone.com/casuality/original-world-war-one-medal-pair-pte-smith-berkshire-regiment-kia-1st-day-of-the-somme/itm41444

A rare and sought after grouping comprising the British War Medal and Interallied Victory Medal, with replacement ribbon.  

Medals are correctly named as follows;

BWM and Vic - 9903 PTE F. SMITH. R. BERKS. R.

The full stops are very lightly impressed on the BWM, not visible in the Regiment.  There is a spot of verdigris on the front of the Victory.  BWM suspension is securely fixed.

Frederick Smith enlisted in Basingstoke and was entitled to a 1914 Mons Star as well, that is sadly missing.  He arrived in theatre on 13 August 1914. Soldiers Died confirms he was serving with the 2nd Battalion when he was killed in action on the 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

On the morning of the 1st, the 2nd Battalion were to attack the village of Ovillers-la-Boiselle.  There is plenty of detail in the unit war diary, available for free on the National Archives website, but it seems the trenches occupied by the Royal Berks on that morning sat in front of Authille Wood, with the unit attacking across the high ground to the north of Mash Valley.

Frederick has no known grave and is commemmorated on the Thiepval Memorial.