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1895-1945 Group to Navy Captain - Navy Cross, Legion of Merit, Presidential Signed Commission & More!

Frank_Smith

By Frank_Smith,
in MEDALS & DECORATIONS

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Frank_Smith

Frank_Smith

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This is a group of eight medals to Captain Stuart Farrar Smith, USN. Navy Cross, split brooch, bronze, three-piece construction in original Bailey, Banks & Biddle case of issue; Legion of Merit, Navy issue with wrap brooch and small ring, in short titled case of issue with wide ribbon bar; Navy Spanish Campaign Medal, numbered "5090"; WWI Victory Medal with "OVERSEAS" clasp. The clasp is a 100% correct Fulford manufactured piece with a thin white metal back strap; Boxed USN American Campaign Medal; WWII Victory Medal; French Legion of Honor, officer, in original Arthus Bertrand case of issue; Participant's badge for the Third Pan-Pacific Science Conference, Tokyo, 1926 in original wood case of issue.

In addition to the medals listed above, the group comes with Smith's appointment as a Naval Constructor, with the rank of Captain, dated May 1921. It is signed by President Warren G. Harding. The group also comes with 50+ pages of copied research.

Captain Smith was born in Brighton, England where his father, (Bvt. Major General William Farrar Smith) was US Consul. He attended the US Naval Academy graduating first in the class of 1895. He was selected for a graduate course in naval architecture at the Ecole d' Application du Genie Maritime, in Paris, France. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He spent the next 19 years in various ship building and ship repair positions. In World War I, he served on the staff of Admiral William F. Sims in London as his Construction Officer dealing with repairs needed by the Allied Navies. His Navy Cross was for, "Distinguished service in the line of his profession as aide for repairs on the staff Commander, US Naval Forces in Europe." The Legion of Honor was presented for services in arranging for ship repairs during the War. Captain Smith then served with the Inter-Allied Naval Armistice Commission to deal with the dispersal of the German Navy. In 1919, he was assigned to the Bureau of Construction and Repair, where he oversaw shipbuilding contracts. In 1922 he retired with 31-years service. In 1926, he attended the Third Pan-Pacific Science Conference in Tokyo. This conference laid groundwork for international scientific cooperation among Pacific-rim nations. He was recalled to active duty during World War II, heading up the Office of Inventions, charged with screening suggestions from the public. He received the Legion of Merit for this assignment and retired again in 1945. Captain Smith died in 1951.

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Dave

Dave

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There are few sales threads that are so informative as this one with a uniquely minty WW1 NC in the box and so on. So I've converted this to a discussion thread, as I know people have been wanting to comment on it as well as to keep it for reference (how many WW1 NC boxes do you ever see???) So with Frank's permission, this is now a discussion thread. Congrats to the new owner and this is an incredible piece for reference here on the USMF!

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emccomas

emccomas

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This is a awesome group. Well done sir, and thank you for show it to us.

 

I am particularly interested in the Navy Cross case. This case appears to be navy blue in color. The colored navy cases that I have seen for early WWII vintage Navy Crosses are black in color.

 

Interestingly enough, the two cases that I am referring to both contain Black Widow versions of the Navy Cross.

 

So this has me wondering. Dies this sound right...

 

WWI and interim year Navy Cross cases (BB&B) are navy blue in color

Early WWII Navy Cross cases (not maker marked) are black in color

Later WWII Navy Cross cases are short titled cases.

 

Thoughts?

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