Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Gunner R. Simm, Royal Field Artillery, who died on 22 October 1917

1914-15 Star (1568 Gnr., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (1568 Gnr., R.A.); Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Robert Simm, June 10 1906) with bronze buckle on ribbon; Memorial Plaque (Robert Simm) good very fine and better (5) £200-260

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine Collection of Life Saving Awards.

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‘At 5 p.m. on 10 June 1906, a four year old boy, Richard Drape, fell into the Tyne, near the swing bridge at Newcastle. It was nearly high tide at the time. Robert Simm and William McNally both plunged in, but Simm reached the boy first, and, at great risk, was able to rescue him, swimming with him to some moorings where they were got out.’ Simm was awarded the R.H.S. Medal in Bronze and McNally the R.H.S. Testimonial on Vellum (R.H.S. Case no. 34,615).

Robert Simm was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne c.1886, the son of William and Sarah Simm. Listed in the 1905 Census as a Slater’s Labourer and in the 1911 Census as a Slater, living with his parents in Newcastle. Serving with the Royal Field Artillery during the Great War, he entered France on 18 April 1915. He died on 22 October 1917 and was buried in the Boisguillaume Communal Cemetery Extension, Seine-Maritime, France.

With copied research.