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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 353

A good 'Operation Olive September 1944' immediate D.C.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant R. A. G. Smith, 8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), who led the charge on an enemy machine-gun nest with a small band of comrades to great success, later the same day he went off hunting alone and single-handedly pulled off a repeat, this time bringing home the enemy prisoners under their own gun

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (6472861 L. Sjt. R. A. G. Smith. R. Fus.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted court-style, very fine (6)

D.C.M. London Gazette 8 February 1945. The recommendation, for an immediate award approved by Alexander, states:

'On the night 6-7 September 1944, 'W' Company, 8 Royal Fusiliers was ordered to attack the enemy and consolidatethe position in the area of the village of Croce.

L-Sgt Smith was Platoon Sergeant of the Leading Platoon. On his own initiative he went forward of his Platoon with a small party of men, overran many of the enemy and cleared up a large area of enemy resistance. Alone, showing complete disregard for his own personal safety, he attacked an enemy MG post and killed the crew with his TMC, captured the MG and returned to his Platoon.

Later, now single handed, he went forward to another MG post, he captured the enemy gun crew and with their weapon brought them back to our line. Had these enemy MGs not been silenced they would have taken very heavy toll on L-Sgt Smiths Company, which in turn may well have prejudiced the security of the whole of the Croce feature.

Apart from these two outstanding incidents, L-Sgt Smith set a very high example of leadership and military qualities and his whole conduct was in the very highest tradition of the Service.'

Ronald Arthur George Smith was born on 8 April 1920 at Hornsey, London and was a cabinet maker upon his joining the Territorial Army in June 1940. He was to join the 8th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers in October 1940.

Smith served with his unit in Iraq, joining PAIFORCE as Lance-Corporal in November 1942. Having served through the Middle East, the unit landed in Italy on 10 September 1943. It was present in the Volturno crossing of October 1943 - being photographed going into action through the mud by Ronald Lambert of No. 2 Army Film & Photo Unit (IWM NA 7876, refers) - and they also shared in Operation 'Shingle' at the Battle of Anzio in January 1944.

Little more needs be said about his services in winning his D.C.M. during Operation 'Olive', for his part at Croce, but more can be read of the wider events in the article Autumn Assualt in Italy (Warfare History Network, refers). Smith was made Sergeant on 10 November 1945, transferred to the Gordon Highlanders and was released in September 1946. He took work as a projects manager in Oxfordshire and died in Adderbury in February 1999; sold together with newspaper cutting and copied research.

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Estimate
£2,800 to £3,200

Starting price
£2500