One family’s medals in Dorset sale

A group of medals and militaria awarded to one family spanning nearly 100 years are to be sold in a Dorset saleroom. 

The medals and militaria relate to the Smith family. Unusually, one of the family members changed their name from Smith to Smyth and in doing so went back to his Irish heritage. 

Highlights of the Smith & Smyth collections are items belonging to Brigadier Terence Nelson Smith DSO OBE who served with 6th Gurkha Rifles. Born in 1899 he died in 1969. There are his group of ten medals including his Distinguished Service Order (DSO), which give an insight to his service from the First World War through to the Second World War. 

In addition to the medals, there are his school rugby shirt and rugby caps, understood to be from St Bedes, Edinburgh, photos from the 1920s when in India, military buttons and insignia, and even a diary extract noting his fiancé finally accepted his offer of marriage after seven proposals. 

The medals, militaria and associated items relating to Brigadier Terence Nelson Smith are estimated at £2,500-3,500 when they go under the Charterhouse auction gavel. 

“We have had the honour and pleasure to sell a wide variety of medals and militaria over the decades,” said auctioneer Richard Bromell. “Most of these consigned have been sold by collectors but this family group are being sold by a descendant of the which is more unusual but much more interesting as there are old photos, uniform parts and even over 100-year-old school rugby jersey and caps.” 

The sale takes place on March 2.