WW1 MEDAL GROUP AND DEATH PLAQUE SGT H SMYRK ACCIDENTALLY KILLED BRITISH ARMY

Offered is a set of First World War medals, Memorial Plaque and original documents to Sergeant Henry Smyrk, Royal Engineers, who lost his life as a result of a car accident in 1919, whilst serving in Palestine

1914 – 15 Star, impressed named 58017 SPR H.A. SMYRK. R.E.; British War and Victory Medals, impressed named 58017 A. CPL. H.A. SMYRK. R.E.; Records Office documents relating to the issue of the medals posthumously; Memorial plaque named HENRY ALFRED SMYRK and condolence slip; Royal Engineers cap badge; original award documents for the 1914/15 Star, as well as the BWM and Victory Medal, certified copy birth certificate. Copy service records including the accident report, M.I.C and medal rolls.

Sergeant Henry Alfred Smyk was born 31/1/1893 at Pentonville, London. An instrument repairer by trade, he enlisted into the Royal Engineers in London 24/11/1914. He was posted to the 35^th Signal Company Shrewsbury. 10/5/15 transferred to the Signals Depot, 10/5/15 posted A.G (Air/Ground telephone lines) Cable Section Egyptian Expeditionary Force 10/8/15 until death 21/5/1919.

At the time of his death, he was an acting Sergeant and was being driven by another soldier in a car en route to Nazareth on Tibenas Rd, as they approached the junction with Acre Rd the steering jammed on the car. The driver braked hard causing the vehicle to skid off the road where it somersaulted throwing both occupants clear. The driver was uninjured but Smyrk was taken to hospital where he subsequently died of shock and multiple injuries.

A Court of Enquiry was convened at H.Q. Haifa Area on 25 June to examine the circumstances of his death. Several witnesses gave testimony. Private Williams, a driver in the Royal Army Service Corps, stated the following:

'To fetch Lt. Harvey and Lt. Yates to their billets, I left the Section billet in the car at 1700 hrs, and as Sgt. Smyrk wished to visit the Signal Office, he came with me. When about seventy yards from the junction of the Acre and Tiberias roads, where the road bends slightly to the left, I attempted to turn the steering wheel but found it jammed. I immediately applied the brakes but could not stop the car, which was running straight towards the side of the road into a deep rut… both Sgt. Smyrk and I were thrown out of the car.'

Smyrk is buried in the Haifa War Cemetery, Israel.