WW1 Bolton- Lancashire Family Smethurst Medal Grouping & Research

WW1 British Bolton- Lancashire Family Smethurst Medal Grouping & Research. This grouping is of four brothers from Bolton in Lancashire, serving in different regiments across different battles and locations. 

In this group are four sets of medals all belonging to the same family Smethurst. 

British war medal and victory medal to “36288 Pte w Smethurst s lan r.”

British war medal and victory medal to “440573 spr f Smethurst re.”

Victory medal to “S4-109450 Cpl E Smethurst ASC.”

British war medal, victory medal and dog tags to “3205 gnr j s Smethurst ra.”

William Smethurst (victory and war medal). William lived at 293 Bolton road in Bradshaw in Bolton- Lancashire. William Smethurst served with the south Lancashire regiment during World War One at the rank of private and the service number 36288, he was entitled to the British war medal and victory medal of which both are present. And then in 1922 William served with the 1st battalion south Lancashire regiment and was awarded the North-West Frontier 1919 medal with the Afghanistan clasp. 

John S Smethurst (British war medal, victory medal and dog tags) served with the royal field artillery during World War One under the rank of private and number 3205. 

Fred Smethurst, Fred lived at 65 Bolton road, Bradshaw In Bolton upon enlisting. Fred enlisted on the 15th of January 1916. Fred served with the 431st Field Company royal engineers during World War One. On the 20th of June 1918 Fred was captured by the Germans and put in Friedrichsfeld prisoner of war camp. Friedrichsfeld bei Wesel was a large prisoner-of-war (POW) camp in Germany during World War I, holding approximately 35,000 prisoners. It was located near Wesel, about 60 miles north of Cologne. The camp was considered one of the better-run camps, with spaces for football, tennis, and gardens maintained by prisoners. On the 26th of June 1919, Fred had been released from the prisoner of war camp and came back to England. Fred was entitled to a British war medal and victory medal which are both present. 

Ellis Smethurst (victory medal only), Ellis was born in 1879 in Bolton. Ellis started at the rank of private, to Corporal (engraved on medal) to the rank of sergeant. Ellis was entitled to the British war medal, victory medal and 1914-15 star, unfortunately only the victory medal is present but missing ribbon. Ellis served with the 27th Field Bakery royal army service corps. He entered Egypt on the 11th of July 1915, he then went on to serve at Lebanon, Gallipoli etc. 

There was also another brother that served but unfortunately his medals are missing, these would have belonged to “7522 Pte F Smethurst Lancashire fusiliers” later worked his way up to Lance Corporal who was first wounded in the 9th of June 1915 and then again (gun shot wound) wounded in the left leg on the 7th July 1916. He was entitled to ban British war medal, victory medal and 1914-15 star. He then went on to serve in the Labour corps. 

Accompanying this medal is 19 scans of their service records. Upon payment please let me know if you would prefer digital scans or printed copies. 

These will be sent via Royal Mail special delivery and dispatched within two working days.