2nd Lieutenant Euan Lucie-Smith-1st commissioned black officer of WWI in the British Army and 1st black casualty of WWI

[Rusty Greaves]

An historically interesting story was reported today about a medal sale that has resulted in the recognition of the first mixed-race individual commissioned as an officer in the British Army in WWI and the first black British Army officer killed during that war, Second Lieutenant Euan Lucie-Smith of Jamaica. The commemorative plaque of his death was recently purchased by the The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum (Warwickshire) from a November, 2020 auction by Dix Noonan Webb (https://www.dnw.co.uk/news-and-events/latest-news/article.php?article_id=446). The commemorative plaque sparked research (much of it by the collector to offered it for auction) about Lt. Euan Lucie-Smith of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum (Warwickshire), confirming him as the first black British Army casualty of WWI. The plaque was put up for auction by a British collector, James Carver, who specializes in medals relating to West African soldiers of the Victorian and Edwardian era. Mr. Carver felt that the plaque's historical value would be augmented through the publicity of its sale, and its eventual purchase by the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum is a very fitting home for this historical piece. A BBC news story today (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-54964074), a 23 October, 2020 story in the metro.news website about the Dix Noonan Webb offering (https://www.metro.news/plaque-to-first-black-officer-in-british-army-rewrites-history/2192968/), among other news sources (i.e., a 17 November, 2020 story on the Military & History website: https://www.militaria-history.co.uk/news/record-price-for-wwi-plaque/), provide additional details on this valuable phaleristics story. 

image of the commemorative plaque (L) and a photo of 2nd Lieutenant Euan Lucie-Smith from the world.press website (https://www.metro.news/plaque-to-first-black-officer-in-british-army-rewrites-history/2192968/).

Edited November 19, 2020 by Rusty Greaves