Description:Defence Medal that belonged to Arthur James Smith. The medal is circular and features a bust of King George VI on the obverse. The reverse reads: "1939 1945 THE DEFENCE MEDAL". The medal is attached to a green ribbon, which has a wide red stripe running along the centre, flanked by thin black stripes at both edges.
Arthur James Smith was born in Bath on 13 May 1902. He moved to Leamington Spa in 1929. In 1938 he qualified as an Air Raid Precautions instructor. During the Second World War Mr Smith was Deputy Training Officer and Decontamination Offficer for Leamington Spa, Officer in Charge for South Warwickshire Civil Defence Equipment Repair Depot, Instructor and Examiner for L.A.R.P. certificates, and founder and chariman of the Local association of Civil Defence Instructors.