The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards

Five: Master-at-Arms Herbert Francis Simpkins, Royal Navy

Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (161470 M.A.A., H.M.S. Fox); 1914-15 Star (161470 M.A.A., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (161470 M.A.A., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (161470 Sh. Corporal 1 Cl., H.M.S. Vivid) nearly extremely fine (5)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards.

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Herbert Francis Simpkins was born in Portishead, Somerset, on 26 March 1875. A Messenger by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 18 July 1891 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in July 1892. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman when on the Shannon, April 1893; Able Seaman when on the Calypso, April 1895; Leading Seaman when on the Talbot, April 1899, and Petty Officer 2nd Class when on the same ship in July 1899. Simpkins became rated Ship’s Corporal 2nd Class when at Vivid I in June 1900 and Ship’s Corporal 1st Class when on Cambridge in May 1902. He attained the rank of Master-at-Arms when on Hannibal in May 1908. As such he served on the cruiser Fox, July 1912-October 1915 - on which ship he gained the N.G.S. medal. The vessel was also involved as naval gun support for the landing at Tanga, German East Africa, 2-5 November 1914. Simpkins last seagoing posting was aboard the armoured cruiser Suffolk, May 1917-July 1919 - the ship being on the China Station, based at the Russian port of Vladivostok, January 1918-April 1919. Simpkins was demobilised on 31 July 1919. With copied service papers and other research.