Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, 'Persian Gulf 1909-1914' (213274. A. E. Smith, Lg. Sea. H.M.S. Sphinx.)

Important: Medal and clasp verified per respective Royal Navy campaign medal roll (Ref ADM 171/62). Only an estimated 156 x NGS with clasp 'Persian Gulf 1909-1914', awarded to 'Officers & Crew' of H.M.S. Sphinx

Note: The NGS Medal Roll annotated to show that the recipients NGS Medal was sent to the recipient at Port Said, on 20 November 1915, where he was serving aboard the captured German steamer S.S. Trifels (the German merchant vessel S.S. 'Trifels' was seized at Colombo, Ceylon Colony, in August 1914. She was later renamed S.S. 'Polvena' and was torpedoed and sunk off Ushant on 17 October, 1917)

Reference London Gazette issue of 1 October 1915, the deployment dates of H.M.S. Sphinx in theatre 'Persian Gulf' was:

- 19th October 1909, to 4th November 1909
- 28th February 1910, to 31st January 1911
- 28th May 1911, to 19th November 1911
- 24th February 1912, to 15th December 1912
- 6th May 1913, to 28th January 1914
- 27th May 1914, to 1st August 1914

Leading Seaman Smith was awarded the Naval General Service Medal with clasp 'Persian Gulf 1909-1914' for service aboard 'Sphinx' during her last 2 x patrols in the Persian Gulf, being present n the crew from, 26 March 1913 to 5 August 1914. On 6August 1914 Arthur was posted to the Royal Navy Deport, Bombay, British India, where he remained until 31 March 1915

Arthur Ernest Smith was born in Hastings, Sussex, on 27 March 1887 and commenced his naval service as a Boy Second Class on 2 October 1904. Prior to joining the Royal Navy, Arthur had been employed as a 'Milk Carrier'. He saw further service during the Great War, for which service he received a 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Interallied Victory Medal (ref ADM 171/115) during which he served with the Royal Naval Division deployed out of Port Said, including service aboard the captured German Teamer 'Trifels'- which lattewr ship had been captured at Colombo, Ceylon Colony, in August 1914. His extant service sheet held at The National Archives show that Arthur was awarded a Naval Long Service & Good Conduct Medal in January 1924, whilst holding the rate of Petty Officer. He was discharged to pension on 7 April 1925, but rejoined the Royal Fleet Reserve the following day and continued service in the R.F.R. until discharged to shore medically unfit on 7 December 1939

Condition: About VF

Code: 21276