Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. GV issue first type (SS-404938 (CH.B. 8616) E. W. Smith. L.Sto. R.F.R.)

The single digit 4 only is over-stamped

Medal(s) Verification: The Royal Fleet Reserve LS&GC medal confirmed as entitled, and the recipient additionally awarded a 1914-14 Star trio as referenced below:

- 1914-15 Star: ADM 171/115
- British War Medal (Silver issue): ADM 171/115
- Interallied Victory Medal: ADM 171/115
- Royal Fleet Reserve LS&GC Medal: ADM 171/146. Medal was issued to party on 22 November 1927

Edwin Walker Smith, son of Peter Henry Smith & Rosalie Harriet Smith (nee Budd), was a native of, Penge, Kent, England, where he was born on, 20 September 1887. Prior to joining the Royal Navy Edwin had been employed as a 'Railway Porter' (later became a Postman while serving on the 'Reserve' 1912-14). On 11 April 1907, he joined the Royal Navy on a short service contract of 5 years and 7 years on the reserve. at which time he was rated Stoker 2nd Class. Amongst the ships he served on in the Edwardian era, were the protected cruisers H.M.S. Charybdis and H.M.S. Blenheim

Edwin was mobilized early in July 1914. In July the Royal Navy began a precautionary mobilisation as war began to seem imminent. Edwin was posted to H.M.S. Victorious - a pre-Dreadnaught Battleship (1895) - on 24 July 1914 and served on Victorious through to, through to 4 February 1915. Victorious and her sister ships Hannibal, Mars, and Magnificent, formed the 9th Battle Squadron on 27 July 1914, stationed at the Humber to defend the British coast; Victorious remained there as guard ship after the 9th Battle Squadron was dissolved on 7 August 1914. In December 1914 she transferred to the Tyne to serve as guard ship there. On 4 January 1915 Victorious paid off at Elswick. The Majestic-class ships were by then the oldest and least effective battleships in service in the Royal Navy. Victorious was laid up on the Tyne in February 1915

Some of the other ships that Edwin Smith served on during the Great War included, H.M.S. Gloucestershire (a commercial liner converted for use as an Armed Merchant Cruiser) between 29 April 1916 to 8 March 1918, and latterly on H.M.S. Kilham (a Kil-Class Patrol Gunboat) between 13 July 1918 to 31 January 1919 

Edwin married Blanche Ada Brett at Croydon, Surrey. sometime during the second quarter of 1914. Edwin Walker Smith of 146 All Saints Avenue, Margate, Kent, England is recorded to have died on 16 January 1961 at Hill House Hospital, Minster, Kent. 

The recipients service sheet is extant and accessible at The National Archives

Condition: VF

Code: 25554