Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War ‘Western Front’ M.M. group of four awarded to 2nd Corporal R. E. Simons, Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers

Military Medal, G.V.R. (105955 L.Cpl. R. E. Simons. Inld: Wtr: Trans. R.E.); 1914-15 Star (105955 Spr. R. E. Simons. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (105955 2 Cpl. R. E. Simons. R.E.) mounted as worn, good very fine (4) £300-£400

M.M. London Gazette 19 February 1917.

Roland Edward Simons was born in Gravesend, Kent, in 1887. A River Thames Lighterman, he attested for the Royal Engineers Inland Water Transport in London on 28 June 1915, and served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 September 1915 - the Inland Water Transport barges were used to transport supplies to forward areas and ambulance barges were used to transport the badly wounded who were unable to tolerate the movement caused by being transported by train or lorry. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 26 February 1916, and was promoted 2nd Corporal on 9 December of that year, and was awarded the Military Medal in February 1917, a late Somme award. Evacuated to the U.K. on 23 June 1917 suffering from arthritis and rheumatism, the result of active service, he returned to France on 15 December 1917, remaining there for the rest of the War. He was demobilised on 14 February 1919. Returning to Gravesend and his former occupation as a Lighterman, he took his own life at home on 30 October 1934, the day before he was due in court to answer a charge of fraudulent conversion.

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