Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A superb First Afghan War C.B. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Simmons, 41st Foot, a Rifle Brigade veteran of the Peninsula War

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge in 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1843, maker’s mark ‘WN’ for William Neale, complete with wide swivel-ring gold straight suspension and gold ribbon buckle; Military General Service 1793-1814, 3 clasps, Vittoria, Nivelle, Nive (J. Simmons, C.B. Lieut. 95th Foot); Army of India 1799-1826, 1 clasp, Ava (Lieut. J. Simmons, 41st Foot) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming; Candahar Ghuznee Cabul 1842 (Major Joseph Simmons. 41st Regt.) fitted with steel clip and German-silver straight bar suspension, the last three fitted with contemporary silver ribbon buckles, minor edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine and better (4) £12000-15000

From the Collection of Napoleonic War Medals formed by the late R. W. Gould, M.B.E.

Joseph Simmons was born in 1795 in the Parish of St Mary’s, Beverley, Yorkshire, and joined the 34th Foot as a Volunteer on 11 September 1811. Through his brother George, an officer of the 95th Rifles and well-known author of the journal published under the title A British Rifle Man, he obtained a commission in the 23rd Foot in May 1812, and later transferred into the 95th Rifles. Joseph served in the Peninsula from September 1811 until the end of hostilities and participated in the storming of the forts at Almaraz, the engagements at San Munas and San Milan, the battle of Vittoria, the actions of Tanzi Bridge and Echelor, the storming of Vera Heights, the crossing of the Bidassoa, and the battles of Nivelle and Nive. Simmonds was advanced to Lieutenant shortly after the latter engagement in December 1813.

Simmons was not present at Waterloo, having remained back in England as Adjutant of four skeleton companies of the regiment. He was placed on half-pay in 1818 and not seeing any prospect of reverting back to full-pay, he exchanged into the 41st Regiment in May 1821. He was subsequently engaged with the regiment in the Burma operations of 1824-26 and participated in the storming of Rangoon and the Syriam Pagoda. Later still, he led the Left Column at the attack on the enemy trenches before the famous Dagon Pagoda. Advanced to Captain at the end of the war, he gained further promotion to Major in 1837.

Simmons next saw active service in Afghanistan, firstly in command of the Left Column of the 41st in the operations against the Kolapore Rajah, and latterly in the war of 1842. In the action in the Pisheen Valley on 28 April 1842, under Major-General England, he commanded a Column in the attack on the strongly held enemy position at Hykulzee and ‘carried it brilliantly’, being mentioned in despatches by England. He was subsequently present in the actions at Goaine, near Candahar, and before Ghuznee, and at the destruction of the latter place and of Cabul. Simmons next accompanied the expedition to Kohistan, distinguishing himself at the storming and capture of Istaliff. Mentioned in despatches by General McCaskill for this latter work, he was similarly honoured by General Knott for his command of the rearguard on 19 October 1842. For these services he was rewarded with the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel in December 1842, and appointed a Companion of the Bath in September 1843. Lieutenant-Colonel Simmons retired in December 1845 and died at his residence in Notting Hill, London, on 6 April 1883.

Joseph Simmons receives many mentions in his brother’s Peninsula journal, A British Rifle Man, many extracts from which accompany the lot together with copied statements of service and other research.