Great Britain: Boer War: Captain Eugene Clementi-Smith Memorial
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Form:
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Circular
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By:
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James Fenton and subsequently Elkington & Co Ltd, Birmingham |
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Date:
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1902 and subsequent years |
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Ref:
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Hern: 656; Laidlaw: 0509;
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Variations:
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| Size | Metal | Mass | Value |
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| 45.0 mm | Silver | 42.4 gm | $350 | | 44.7 mm | Silver Plated Bronze | 34.8 gm | $160 | | 45.1 mm | Copper-Bronze | 42.1 gm | $225 |
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Edge:
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Plain.
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Obverse:
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Bust of Clementi-Smith in uniform wearing bush hat, right.
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Reverse:
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At the top, a radiant crown and: “PRO PATRIA” in an arc below. Below that, across: “TO COMMEMORATE THE / SERVICES OF THE LATE / CAPT. EUGENE CLEMENTI-SMITH D.S.O. / WHO FELL AT HARRISMITH / 11TH. SEPTEMBER 1901 / PRESENTED BY THE CITY RIFLE CLUB”. At the bottom is a blank cartouche. Silver medal stamped with the maker's mark: "J.F" and the Birmingham hallmarks for 1902-3 or, in later years, the maker's mark: "E&Co" and either Birmingham hallmarks or: "SILVER". The medal here has the latter marks.
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Notes:
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Silver medal from Elkington issued inside a fitted white case lined with white silk and beige velvet. On the inside of the lid: "(Royal coat of arms) / ELKINGTON & CO. LTD. MEDALLISTS".
Eugene Clementi-Smith (1847-1901) was born at Chigwell, Essex, son of Rev. John Smith and Cecilia Clementi. He went to Canada and served in the Canadian Artillery (Winnipeg Field Battery, 1871) and as High Commissioner and JP at Brandon, Manitoba. He helped raise the Manitoba Grenadier Regiment and served as Lieutenant in N.W. Canada. He returned to England 1890 and joined Middlesex Yeomanry. In the Boer War he was with the 11th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry. He was wounded at Harrismith on 11 September 1901 and subsequently died of wounds and pneumonia on 4 October 1901. He was awarded the DSO posthumously in 1901
The City Rifle Club is affiliated to the National Rifle Association and is situated at the National Shooting Centre Bisley, Surrey. Clementi-Smith was a keen marksman and winner of several awards from the NRA. It is believed that these medals were awarded at rifle shooting competitions in his memory. A gold medal is also believed to exist.
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