Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Chief Petty Officer V. C. Simson, Royal Navy, a wartime recipient of the M.S.M. for services in the cruiser H.M.S. Phaeton, following which he was present in operations in the Baltic 1919-20

1914-15 Star (J. 9349 V. C. Simson, L.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J. 9349 V. C. Simson, P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (J. 9349 V. C. Simson, C.P.O., H.M.S. Pembroke); Royal Naval Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (J. 9349 V.C. Simson, P.O., “Phaeton”, Services During War), mounted as worn, the last with crudely refixed suspension claw and heavily polished overall, thus fair (5) £200-250

Victor Charles Simson was born in Ramsgate, Kent, in July 1893, and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in August 1910. An Able Seaman serving in the battleship H.M.S. Magnificent on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he remained similarly employed until removing to the cruiser Royal Arthur in February 1915. Having then gained advancement to Petty Officer, and served ashore in the period July 1916 until January 1917, Simson joined the cruiser Phaeton, in which capacity he was awarded the M.S.M. (London Gazette 21 June 1919 refers). And he was still serving in the Phaeton when she was ordered to the Baltic in August 1919, where he was present at the Allied blockade of Libau against German shipping in October-November, and when the cruise carried out a successful shore bombardment in support of a Latvian contingent. Returning home in early 1920, Simson was advanced to Chief Petty Officer in November 1925, and was still serving at the end of that decade; sold with copied service record.