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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 251

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

The C.B.E., T.D. group of ten awarded to Brigadier M. J. Babington Smith, Leicestershire Yeomanry & Home Guard, a prominent British Civil Servant who became the Director of the Bank of England for two decades

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Commander's (C.B.E.) neck Badge, 79mm x 64mm, silver-gilt and enamel, on a full length of thin neck riband, in a Garrard & Co, London case; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1953; Territorial Decoration, G.VI.R., with Second and Third Award Bars, with top Territorial integral bar, '1950' engraved to reverse; France, Republic, Legion of Honour, 54mm x 39mm, silvered, silver-gilt and enamel; War Cross, with palm leaves upon riband, 1939 to reverse, last nine mounted for wear, sold together with a number of Cambridge University fencing medallions, one ray bent to LoH along with some minor enamel chips, otherwise all very fine (10)

C.B.E. London Gazette 31 May 1945.

Michael James Babington Smith was born on 20 March 1901 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire, to Sir Henry Babington Smith, a senior British Civil Servant and eventual Director of the Bank of England, whose insignia and despatch box are being sold in Lots 250, 408 and 387 of this sale. His mother was Lady Elizabeth Bruce, daughter of the 9th Earl of Elgin who served as Viceroy of India, and indeed it was out in India where his parents first met.

Babington Smith attended Eton College, where he saw much success as a cricketeer, before then matriculating at Trinity College, Cambridge. His sporting career continued to thrive while studying here and he took a vetted interest in shooting and fencing. His fencing successes in his Varsity matches against the University of Oxford are included within the Lot: he saw victory in the 2nd Team in both Epee and Foils in 1922 and 1923. In University and beyond Babington Smith saw further action in the piste, making it to the British Foil championships five times and being made Captain of the England fencing team in 1931.

Upon graduating in 1923, Babington Smith joined Glyn, Mils & Co, a bank with whom he worked for the proceeding 50 years. He was made a partner in 1932, the managing director in 1938 and the deputy chairman in 1946. That same year he was appointed to the Court of Directors of the Bank of England before then being promoted the Director of the Bank of England, exactly like his father before him, in 1949.

Aside from an exemplary civil career, Babington Smith also saw extensive military service. While studying at Cambridge, he joined the Officer Training Corps and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Leicestershire Yeomanry in 1925. Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, he was called up once more to serve and spent the first two years of the war serving with the Home Guard. However, from 1941 onwards, Babington Smith saw a significant increase in responsibilities and he was called to serve as the financial controller of the newly liberated Italian colonies in East Africa. Later, in 1943, he was recalled to England to serve as an assistant to the American General D. D. Eisenhower at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (S.H.A.E.F.). It was here that he was promoted Brigadier and appointed Director of Finance at the S.H.A.E.F. until the end of the war in 1945. His job was crucial in the financial planning of Allied invasions, and it is an understatement to say that Babington Smith was a cornerstone in the administration of Western Europe during the war. For his efforts, he was awarded the C.B.E..

Babington Smith never truly retired until his death in London in 1984, aged 83 years old.

Sold together with a large archive comprising:

i)
Cambridge University Winner of Epee Trials 1923 Medallion, engraved 'M Babington Smith Winner 1923' to reverse, in its Munsey & Co, Cambridge case of issue.

ii)
Oxford and Cambridge Universities Boxing & Fencing Competitions Medallion for Foils 2nd Team, engraved 'M. Babington Smith Trin: Coll: 2 Wins 1922' to reverse, in its Munsey & Co, Cambridge case of issue.

iii)
Oxford and Cambridge Universities Boxing & Fencing Competitions Medallion for Foils 2nd Team, engraved 'M, Babington Smith Trinity College 2nd Foils 2 Wins' to reverse, in its Munsey & Co, Cambridge case of issue.

iv)
A French Suez Canal Medallion, 'Michael J. Babington Smith CBE Administrateur' embossed to reverse, in its case of issue.

v)
St. George pendant by Skinner & Co, London, silver-gilt, in its case of issue.

vi)
Letter from the War Office to Babington Smith dated 13 June 1947 showing his Second World War medal entitlement and stapled with spare Africa Medal, France and Germany Medal and Defence Medal riband.

vii)
Certificate for the Legion of Honour, framed and glazed.

For Babington Smith's miniature medals please see Lot 399.

For Babington Smith's father's insignia please see Lots 250 and 408. For his despatch box please see Lot 387.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,500

Starting price
£800