TOPIC:

SIMMS, C. (CHARLES) E. (EDWARD)

REG. NO.: 66038
RANK: SERGEANT

REGT: ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY, "A" Section Pom-poms
SERVED WITH 6th BATTALION MOUNTED INFANTRY
BARS: CAPE COLONY, PAARDEBERG, JOHANNESBURG, DIAMOND HILL,
WITTEBERGEN

REMARKS / HISTORY:

1. DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, EDWARD VII, 66038 SJT. C.E. SIMMS, R.F.A.
2. KING’S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL, USUAL 2 BARS (as QSA)
3. ARMY LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EDWARD VII, 66038 BTY. SJT. MJR. C.E. SIMMS, R.F.A.
4. MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL, GEROGE VI, 66038 W.O. CL. 2 C.E. SIMMS, (D.C.M.) R.A.
5. SILVER WAR BADGE, Number: 294850
6. BRASS PLAQUE: Presented to / BATTY. SERGT. MAJ. SIMMS / BY THE N.C.O.’S AND MEN OF / 5th Battery R.F.A. / ON HIS LEAVING THE SERVICE / 7 DEC. 1908
7. ROYAL ARTILLERY HELMET PLATE.

8. Charles Edward Simms:

Came from Luttleworth, Leicester and enlisted into the Royal Artillery at Preston on 9th January 1888 aged 18 years and a baker by trade. He was promoted Bombardier in Feb 1891, Corpl in Dec 1891, Sergt in May 1895 and Bty Sgt Major Oct 1904. He was discharged from the regular army in Feb. 1909 and immediately attested into the Leicestershire Royal Horse Artillery (TF) where he was immediately given the rank of Bty Sgt Major. He attended regular annual trainings until he was mobilized on 5th Aug 1914 as Bty Sgt Major (WO II) Royal Horse Artillery ). He was finally discharged in July 1917 after 29 years service and aged 42 years. Having been recommended for, but presumably declined, a Commission.

Bty Sgt Major Simms' Great War service was entirely in the UK which his confirmed by his MIC which refers only to his MSM having been awarded in 1946. There is no entitlement therefore to Great War medals other than the Silver War Badge. WW2 service of any kind cannot be confirmed.

He was mentioned in Lord Robert's despatch of 4th Sept 1901 as Sgt C. Simms, RA but listed under the Mounted Infantry section. Simms' DCM was published in the London Gazette of 27 Sept 1901 confirming that he served in and won the DCM in the 6th Btn Mounted Infantry.

Possibly a unique RA DCM to the Mounted Infantry.

MIC shows WO Cl II C.E. Simms, DCM was awarded the MSM with annuity inAO 8th July 1946.

Hi Mike,
A very good group, which I like as much for the unit on his QSA,as well as his other medals.
Was also interested to see that he spent some time serving with one of the 75mm mobile Anti Aircraft batteries, down at Shoeburyness in the Great War, so he may well have spent 1916 and 1917 defending the home counties from zeppelin and gotha raids.
May to August was very much the Gotha summer, here, in 1917! So you see, he really was fighting for King and Country!
A lovely group, I don't have a QSA to the 1 pounder pom pom batteries, they don't turn up very often!
Regards Frank

Mike

A superb group of medals! Thank you for sharing it with us.

Regards
Brett

Hello Mike

Yes, very nice indeed.

How is the QSA named?

Regards
Meurig

Good Morning Everyone....

Thanks Fred, Brett, Meurig.....

Meurig the naming is as standard.....

66038 Sergt. C. E. SIMMS R.F.A.

No mention of the DCM....

Mike

Thanks Mike.

I wonder how some QSAs were named to "pom-poms" and others not?