Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Second War 1944 ‘V-2 Rocket Attack’ B.E.M. group of three awarded to Bombardier A. H. C. Simpson, 64 Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (1762806 Bmbdr. Albert H. C. Simpson. RA.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine (3) £340-380

B.E.M. London Gazette 10 April 1945.
The original Recommendation states: ‘Throughout his war service, Bombardier Simpson has always shown great keenness and competence in any tasks or duties that he has had to perform. During a recent Flying Bomb attack on the London area he exhibited exceptional powers of quick thinking and leadership when a Flying Bomb exploded 20 yards from the site at which he was Detachment Commander. The fine example which this NCO set has undoubtedly been an inspiration to all ranks of his Regiment.’

Albert Henry Charles Simpson was born on 9 January 1912 and served during the Second World War with 64 Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery, as part of A.A. Command. He was awarded his B.E.M. for his gallantry whilst serving as Detachment Commander during a V-2 Rocket attack, believed to have taken place near Waltham Abbey on 25 September, 1944. The unit War Diary records that on ‘25 September, between 05:03 and 15:27 three V-2’s were engaged, one crashing 30 yards from Search Light site N2A.’ He was discharged to Class ‘Z’ Reserve on 1 June 1946, and died in Barking in 2005.

From 8 September 1944 until the cessation of hostilities a total of 1,358 German V-2 rockets were fired in the direction of London, destroying swathes of buildings and causing an estimated 2,754 civilians killed and another 6,523 injured - largely in East and South East London. The most notorious of these strikes devastated Selfridges, Speaker’s Corner and Holborn, and particularly high casualties were caused by rocket hits at Woolworths in New Cross (168 killed), 25 November 1944, and at a market in Farringdon (110 killed), 8 March 1945. Given their supersonic speed and high-altitude (known as Divers or Flying Bombs), V-2 rockets were virtually impossible to defend against.