The Michael McGoona Collection to the Leinster Regiment

A fine Great War C.M.G., D.S.O. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant Colonel R. R. Smyth, Leinster Regiment

The Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., lacking top bar brooch; Queen’s South Africa, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Rhodesia (Lieut., Leins. Rgt.) the Rhodesia clasp loose on ribbon; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Lieut., Liens. Rgt.); 1914 Star, with copy clasp (Capt., Leins. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col.); France, Medal of Honour, with swords, in silver-gilt, generally good very fine or better (8) £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Michael McGoona Collection to the Leinster Regiment.

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C.M.G. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

D.S.O. London Gazette 4 June 1917.

Despatches five times London Gazette 15 June 1916, 15 May 1917, 20 May 1918, 20 December 1918, and 5 July 1919.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Riversdale Smyth, C.M.G., D.S.O. served during the South African War, including operations in Rhodesia, 21 October to 24 November 1899, whilst on the Staff; afterwards performing the duties of an Intelligence Officer, operations in the Orange River Colony, September to 29 November 1900; and Cape Colony, March to September 1900.

During the Great War he served in France and Flanders as Brigade Major to 108 Brigade, 18 January 1915 to 28 may 1916; D.A.Q.M.G., 63rd Royal Naval Division, 29 May 1916 to 1 August 1918; appointed A.A. & Q.M.G., 63rd Royal Naval Division, from 2 August 1918.

The Rhodesia clasp is extremely rare to the Leinster Regiment, there being only two such awarded. It should be noted that whilst his service history does indicate his presence in Rhodesia, the medal roll and his biographical war services in both Services of Military Officers 1920 and The V.C. and D.S.O., by Sir O’Moore Creagh & E.M. Humphris, mention only three clasps to his Q.S.A.