The James Fox Collection of Naval Awards

Four: Chief Petty Officer H. B. Simmonds, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. New Zealand at Heligoland Bight in 1914; Dogger Bank in 1915; and at the Battle of Jutland in 1916

1914-15 Star (168337 H. B. Simmonds. P.O.1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (168337 H. B. Simmonds. C.P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (168337 H. B. Simmonds. P.O. 1Cl., H.M.S. New Zealand) mounted as worn; together with H.M.S. New Zealand Visit to New Zealand 1913, 36mm., silver, unnamed, good very fine (5) £280-£340

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The James Fox Collection of Naval Awards.

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Henry Bennett Simmonds was born in Devonport on 1 March 1879. He enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 16 August 1892 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in August 1893. Was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in March 1895 when on H.M.S. Empress of India; Able Seaman in May 1897 when on H.M.S. Rupert; and Leading Seaman in September 1901 when on H.M.S. Britannia. Serving on H.M.S. Magdala, December 1901-February 1903, he was advanced to Petty Officer 2nd Class in September 1902 and 1st Class in December 1902. Awarded the L.S. & G.C. in March 1910. In January 1911 he was reduced to the rate of Able Seaman, deprived of his L.S. & G.C. Medal and one Good Conduct Badge for neglect of duty; charges of theft of spirit of which he was accused were dismissed.

Simmonds regained the rating of Leading Seaman in August 1912 when on H.M.S. Orion. He served on the battlecruiser, H.M.S. New Zealand, November 1912-April 1917 and was re-appointed Petty Officer 1st Class in January 1913. In February 1913 his ship started on a world cruise. In New Zealand a Maori Chief predicted H.M.S. New Zealand would soon be in battle and presented two symbolic tribal garments with the warranty that the ship would come to no harm as long as the Captain was wearing them. The items were a tiki ( a gemstone pendant) and a piu-piu (a rush garment worn around the waist). The New Zealand Government also presented each member of the ship’s company with a silver medallion (above). Serving on the battlecruiser in the early years of the war, Simmonds was aboard her at the battles of Heligoland Bight, 28 August 1914; Dogger Bank, 24 January 1915 and Jutland, 30 May/1 June 1916. In the latter action, the magic garments certainly did the trick, and of the heavily engaged battlecruisers, three of which blew up, H.M.S. New Zealand was hit only once. After such active service Simmonds was posted ashore on Vivid I and Defiance, before joining the destroyer H.M.S. Simoom in February 1918. He was again awarded the L.S. & G.C in April 1917 and was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in April 1918 when on Simoom. He was demobilised in July 1919 and joined the R.F.R.

With original photograph of the recipient in uniform and copied service papers and other research in a folder.