Queens South Africa Medal clasps Cape Colony, Paardeberg (4425 PTE F. SMITH. 16TH LANCERS); Kings South Africa Medal clasps South Africa 1901 & 1902 (4425 PTE. F.W. SMITH. 16TH LANCERS); 1914-15 Star (CPL. F.W. SMITH. NTL LIGHT HSE.); British War Medal (CPL. F.W. SMITH. M.T.C.); Victory Medal (CPL. F.W. SMITH. M.T.C.)
Frederick William Smith was born in East Haddon, Northamptonshire in 1876. He enlisted with the 21st Lancers in 1896 and saw service with them in Egypt before transferring to the 16th Lancers in September 1899. He served in India but was posted to South Africa for service in the Anglo Boer War on 7 January 1900. After his was discharged, time expired, on 16 October 1903 he opted to remain in South Africa and was living in Cape Town when WWI broke out in 1914.
He served in German South West Africa with the famed Natal Light Horse and was probably involved with the battle at Gibeon Station in April 1915 where the retreating Germans gave Jumping Jack Royston, the NLH OC, a bloody nose before General MacKenzie came to the rescue. With that campaign over on 9 July 1915 he returned to South Africa.
He joined the 12th Howitzer Battery of the South Africa Heavy Artillery, seeing service with them in German East Africa. Like most troops he suffered with Malaria and Blackwater Fever and was repatriated to South Africa from Nairobi on 25 December 1916.
Not done yet, once he had recovered, he completed Attestation forms at Potchefstroom on 15 June 1917 for service in France with the 84th Miscellaneous Trades Company. He sailed back to South Africa on 30 May 1919 and was discharged at Maitland, Cape Town on 28 June 1919 . A Rivetter by trade his address was 50 Polo Road, Cape Town.
He died in Tygervalley, Cape Town in 1956.
Medals are in good condition unless indicated otherwise. Please note that the Victory medal is the bi-lingual South African reverse. Sold together with copied research.
