A M.C. group of seven miniature dress medals representative of those worn by Major R. W. B. Simms, General List, late Royal Marine Artillery and Northumberland Fusiliers

Military Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension; Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head; Belgium, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, Chevalier’s badge, silver and enamel; Croix de Guerre, A.I.R., bronze, mounted for display, enamel damage to wreath on Order of the Crown, nearly very fine (7) £80-£100

M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1918:
‘For distinguished conduct in connection with military operations in Italy’.

Belgian, Order of the Crown, Chevalier London Gazette 21 August 1919.

Belgian, Croix de Guerre London Gazettes 21 August 1919 and 4 September 1919.

Robert William Benjamin Simms was born on 11 August 1865. As a young man he joined the Royal Marines and served in the Royal Marine Artillery. He was subsequently promoted Sergeant, and in that rank was awarded the Royal Navy L.S. & G.C. In the April 1898 edition of The Globe and Laurel he is shown as a Sergeant Instructor wearing his medal. On the formation of the 3rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in 1900, Quartermaster Sergeant Instructor Simms transferred to the Army and to that battalion, being promoted to Sergeant-Major in June 1900. He was discharged to a pension in April 1906. On the outbreak of the Great War, Simms rejoined the Army. He was appointed Temporary Quartermaster with the honorary rank of Lieutenant on 28 October 1914, serving with the Portsmouth (later 14th) Battalion Hampshire Regiment. He was advanced to Temporary Lieutenant on 30 November 1914 and Temporary Captain on 11 March 1917. Temporary Captain Simms was transferred to the General List, and appointed an Assistant Provost-Marshal (graded as Staff Captain) on 21 April 1917. Mentioned in General Haig’s despatch of 7 November 1917 (London Gazette 11 December 1917), he was then awarded the M.C. for services in Italy. The 41st Division with whom he had been serving had been sent to the Italian Front in November 1917; it later returned to the Western Front in March 1918.

On 1 May 1918 Simms was promoted to Temporary Major. As such he was awarded the Belgian Order of the Crown and twice awarded the Croix de Guerre. During the period from 23 February to 1 March 1920 he held the appointment of Deputy Assistant Provost Marshal. On 1 July 1920 he was appointed a Camp Commandant, holding this appointment until he was released. Temporary Major Simms relinquished his commission, retaining his rank of Major on 10 November 1920. He was awarded the M.S.M. and Annuity by the Army Orders 16 of 31 January 1935, and died on 17 October 1955.

Note: The recipient’s full-sized awards were sold in these rooms in December 2008, as part of the John Tamplin Collection.

Sold with a photographic image of the recipient; and copied research.