Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension, impressed naming (Wm. Hy. Simmonds, Blksh, H.M.S. Neptune) minor edge bruising, good very fine £100-£140

William Henry Simmons was born in Devonport, Devon on 6 March 1850. He enlisted into the Royal Navy in March 1868 and was first posted to H.M.S. Prince Consort as a member of the blacksmith’s crew. He served with numerous ships including H.M.S. Black Prince, Vanguard, Magpie, Hercules and Arab. In July 1882 he was posted to the wooden screw corvette H.M.S. Thalia and was part of her crew during operations off the coast of Egypt. For this service, Simmonds was awarded the Egypt Medal and Khedive’s Star. He remained with Thalia until December 1882 and following this went onto serve with H.M.S. Indus, Victor Emmanuel, Albatross and Hotspur, finally joining H.M.S. Neptune in May 1887. It was whilst serving with this ship that he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. He was discharged with a pension in April 1888.