Lot 1099

Description

Victory Medal 1914-19. Captain. P.L.Smith. A.I.F. Impressed. Original tattered ribbon, some original lustre, otherwise very fine.

Entitled to Military Cross.

MC: Supplement No.301111 to LG 1/6/1917; CAG No.169, 4/10/1917.

Recommendation:
(a) At Armentieres on the 12th December 1916, during an enemy bombardment, one of the fire bays was blown in and Pte N.Scott was buried in the debris. Lieut. Smith worked for nearly an hour, exposed in full view of the enemy - only 200 yards distant - and finally succeeded in extricating the man.
(b) At Armentieres on the night 9th/10th January 1917, while commanding an assault on the enemy trenches carried out by a party from his Battalion, he showed great courage, coolness, and ability. On the withdrawal of the party he checked each man as he issued from the enemy trenches, and, together with a Lewis gunner, covered the return of the raiders across No Man's Land

Perceval (also recorded as Percival) Lascelles Smith, bank inspector (accountant) at Bank of NSW in Victoria, age 29, born at Williamstown, Vic; Enl.21Feb1916 at Melbourne, Vic; Emb.27May1916; to Lieutenant 01May1916 39Bn; to Captain 15Feb1917; awarded Military Cross 03Jun1917; WIA 31Aug1918 GSW abdomen DOW 02Sep1918 in the field, France (Whilst loading a Company in an attack on Clery-sur-Somme the Company had only advanced a short distance when Capt. Smith was shot in the abdomen by an enemy Machine Gun bullet. He was evacuated to 53rd C.C.S. where he died of wounds on 2.9.18. His body was buried in Daours Cemetery, Map 62D N.6.a.4.2. Sgd. A.T.Paterson, Major, C.O., 39th Battalion A.I.F.).