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Lot Essay
Sold with the recipient's original 'Commando Service Certificate', this confirming his time with the Commandos in June 1940 until January 1946; and a fine wartime photograph of what would appear to be Officers and N.C.Os of No. 3 Commando in Italy, very probably just after Smith's M.M.-winning exploits at Termoli.
M.M. London Gazette 27.1.1944. Recommendation states 'For devotion to duty and great powers of leadership under fire. During the action at Termoli on 5 October 1943, this N.C.O. commanded a Section of men exposed on the forward slopes of the hill covering [?] and dead ground in front. The Section was under heavy shell fire. Sergeant Smith inspired confidence in his Section by his own example of coolness. They remained in this exposed position for six hours though casualties were being inflicted. When given the order to withdraw 400 yards to a new position he brought his men back without loss, finding the only covered line available. This manoeuvre was carried out under heavy mortar fire. He placed his Section and gave the order to dig in. They were then shelled and machine-gunned by four Mk. IV tanks for six hours. It was through Sergeant Smith's fine and courageous example that his Section stood their ground with confidence and cheerfulness. He was alive to every changing situation and had complete disregard for his own personal safety'.
Warrant Officer Class 1 William Thomas Smith, M.M., was originally recommended by Major (later Lieutenant-Colonel) Peter Young, D.S.O., M.C., for a Distinguished Conduct Medal. Montgomery, however, amended the Recommendation to a Military Medal. For further details of the Commando action at Termoli, see Peter Young's Storm From The Sea, a wartime memoir that also contains a great deal of information on previous No. 3 Commando actions, not least Dieppe. Given that Smith commenced his service in the Commandos as early as June 1940, it is interesting to speculate as to whether he was present in the latter raid, or indeed several other famous Commando outings, such as Vaasgo.
M.M. London Gazette 27.1.1944. Recommendation states 'For devotion to duty and great powers of leadership under fire. During the action at Termoli on 5 October 1943, this N.C.O. commanded a Section of men exposed on the forward slopes of the hill covering [?] and dead ground in front. The Section was under heavy shell fire. Sergeant Smith inspired confidence in his Section by his own example of coolness. They remained in this exposed position for six hours though casualties were being inflicted. When given the order to withdraw 400 yards to a new position he brought his men back without loss, finding the only covered line available. This manoeuvre was carried out under heavy mortar fire. He placed his Section and gave the order to dig in. They were then shelled and machine-gunned by four Mk. IV tanks for six hours. It was through Sergeant Smith's fine and courageous example that his Section stood their ground with confidence and cheerfulness. He was alive to every changing situation and had complete disregard for his own personal safety'.
Warrant Officer Class 1 William Thomas Smith, M.M., was originally recommended by Major (later Lieutenant-Colonel) Peter Young, D.S.O., M.C., for a Distinguished Conduct Medal. Montgomery, however, amended the Recommendation to a Military Medal. For further details of the Commando action at Termoli, see Peter Young's Storm From The Sea, a wartime memoir that also contains a great deal of information on previous No. 3 Commando actions, not least Dieppe. Given that Smith commenced his service in the Commandos as early as June 1940, it is interesting to speculate as to whether he was present in the latter raid, or indeed several other famous Commando outings, such as Vaasgo.