Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lance-Corporal J. B. Simpson, 1st Regiment, South African Infantry, late South African Constabulary and South African Railways, who was killed in action on 20 September 1917 during the Battle of Ypres

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (1933 3rd.Cl: Tpr: J. B. Simpson. S.A.C.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals (L/Cpl. J. B. Simpson 1st. S.A.I.) edge knocks and scratches to obverse of QSA, glue residue to reverse of all, generally nearly very fine and better (3) £140-£180

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, The Bernard Harris Collection of Medals to the 1st Regiment, South African Infantry.

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John Bain Simpson, an engine driver, was born in Abernethy in 1880, the son of ploughman Donald Simpson of 23 Guard Kennel, Abernethy, Perthshire. He served during the Boer War as a Constable in the South African Constabulary and later appears to have taken employment on the South African railways. Enlisting at Potchefstroom on 26 February 1917 for the 1st Battalion, South African Infantry, he embarked for England at Cape Town per H.M.T. Galway Castle on 10 March 1917 and joined the 1st Regiment on the Western Front on 3 July 1917. Witnessing the early autumn rains which turned the battlefield into a quagmire, Simpson was killed in action on 20 September 1917; aged 37 years, he is remembered with honour upon the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Sold with copied service record and CWGC entries.