A Collection of Great War Medals to Yeomanry Regiments

Eight: Major J. M. Pye-Smith, Royal Air Force, late Royal West Surrey Regiment and Surrey Yeomanry

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut., Imp. Yeo,); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Capt., R.A.F.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Major, Surr. Yeo.) gilded; 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals, unnamed; Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., unnamed, hallmarks for London 1920, lacking top bar, mounted as worn, good very fine, rare T.F.W.M. (8) £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Great War Medals to Yeomanry Regiments.

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M.I.D. London Gazette 21 December 1918. ‘Capt. (Surr. Yeo. (T.F.)) 23rd Sqdn. R.A.F.’

J. M. Pye-Smith was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Royal West Surrey Regiment on 23 May 1900 and was advanced to Lieutenant on 5 June 1901. He was transferred to the 25th Company 7th Battalion (West Somerset) Imperial Yeomanry in July 1901. With these units he served in the Boer War, in Transvaal, May 1901-May 1902 and in Cape Colony, May 1902, for which service he was awarded the Queen’s Medal with three clasps. He was appointed a Captain in the Surrey Yeomanry on 2 December 1902. As such he was one of the original officers of the 2/1st Battalion Surrey Yeomanry when it was raised in August/September 1914. He attained the rank of Major on 23 February 1915. The 2/1 Surrey Yeomanry was based in England and Ireland throughout the war but Pye-Smith served in France/Flanders, 11 November 1916-11 November 1918. Transferred to the Air Force, he was appointed a Captain in the R.A.F. (Administration) on 1 April 1918, and for his service with that branch of the armed forces, was mentioned in despatches. Post-war, he was awarded the Territorial Decoration (London Gazette 30 June 1921) when he was listed as a Major (Hon. Lieut. in the Army) attached Surrey Yeomanry. With the onset of the Second World War, he was ranked as a Flight Lieutenant in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch.

A note with the lot states that the Surrey Yeomanry received only one Territorial Force War Medal to an officer (Pye-Smith) and four to other ranks.