An Interesting Great War 'P.O.W.' Pair & Memorial Plaque awarded to Private Ernest William Smith, 1st/5th Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), late Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, who was wounded in the arm and taken Prisoner of War by German Forces at Rheims, he later died at home upon release, comprising: British War and Victory Medals, 1914-1919 (G-60033 Pte. E. W. Smith); Memorial Plaque (Ernest William Smith); Group loose, offered with original memorial letter, extremely fine or better (4) Private Ernest William Smith was born in Islington, London, and he enlisted for Great War service with the Royal West Surrey Regiment at Wood Green, being then a resident of Hornsey. Having worked as a Brakeman with the Great Northern Railway, he later served as a Signaller with the 1st/5th Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), with whom he was wounded in action in the arm at Rheims, where he was taken as a prisoner of war. As a result of his wounds and the privations of being a ‘P.O.W.’ he contracted Nephritis and was released to recover back in Britain, but died soon after. He died on 31 December 1918, being buried at Hitchin Cemetery near his parents’ home. Ex Morton and Eden, July 2017

Estimate: GBP 120 - 150