Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

National Rifle Association Prize Medal, 47mm, bronze (Won by Pte. F. Simpson. 4th V.B. Manchester Regt. 1897) with bronze straight bar suspension; 4th Volunteer Battalion Manchester Regiment Silver Shooting Prize Medal, the obverse with coat of arms of the City of Manchester, the reverse with fleur de lys encircled by the words ‘4th Volunteer Battalion Manchester Regt.’, the edge engraved ‘No. 5232 Pioneer W. A. Franklin’, with swivelling suspension bar dated 1901, suspension claw tightened on latter, edge nicks and polishing to high relief points, generally very fine (2) £60-£80

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

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Francis Simpson was born in Manchester in 1860, and in 1882 he joined the 3rd Regiment of Manchester Volunteers, which later became 4th Volunteer Battalion the Manchester Regiment. Frank Simpson became an expert marksman winning the Legh Challenge Cup at the 1894 Lancaster Rifle Association Meeting, and reached the last 100 of Her Majesty’s Sovereign Prize at Bisley in 1895, 1897, 1898 and 1899. He reached the top 50 of the Grand Aggregate at Bisley on three occasions, in 1895, 1898 and 1902; and reached the top 25 in the St. George’s Trophy in 1890. He won the bronze National Rifle Association medal at the Lancashire County Rifle Association competition in 1897.

Simpson was appointed Sergeant in or about 1900, and transferred to 7th (Territorial) Battalion on the formation of the Territorial Force in 1908. He retired on age grounds in 1912, but continued his association with the regiment by working for the Veterans Association of the 7th Battalion, and on the office staff of the East Lancashire National Reserve. He died in 1931 at Ardwick, Manchester.

Sold with copied obituary from the Regimental Journal and other research.

William Allieff Franklin was born at Buglawton, Congleton, Cheshire, in 1841, and at some time prior to 1874 he enrolled into the 4th Volunteer Battalion the Manchester Regiment. He was one of 30 men of the 4th V.B. Manchester Regiment to be awarded the Volunteer Force Long Service Medal in March 1895, the first of such awards to the regiment. In the 1901 Census he is recorded as Sergeant and Pioneer 4th V.B. Manchester Regiment and was residing at Broughton, Salford.

Sold with copied research which includes a copied photographic image of the recipient.