Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An unusual family group:

The Indian Volunteer Forces group of five awarded to Major J. A. Simpson, Calcutta Light Horse, who was awarded the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society’s Marine Medal

Delhi Durbar 1903; Delhi Durbar 1911, privately engraved, ‘Capt. J. A. Simpson, Calcutta Light Horse’; Indian Volunteer Forces Decoration, G.V.R., the reverse officially engraved, ‘Maj. J. A. Simpson, 4/Bn. B.N. Rly. Rgt. (A.F.I.)’; Volunteer Force Long Service (India & the Colonies) (Capt. J. A. Simpson, Cal. Lt. Horse); Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society’s Marine Medal, silver (John A. Simpson for Jumping into Queen’s Dock L’pool and rescuing a Youth from Drowning, Aug. 1890), together with an attractive portrait miniature in gold glazed frame, and Calcutta Light Horse gilt badge, the whole contained within a glazed display frame, good very fine and better

The M.B.E., Kaisar-i-Hind group of three awarded to his wife, Mrs. Winifred Simpson, a Lady Superintendent of the St. John Ambulance Association in India

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver; Kaisar-i-Hind, G.V.R., 2nd Class, silver; St. John Service Medal (3631 D.V./A./Off. W. E. L. Simpson, No. 2 Dis. India S.J.A.B.D., 1927), together with her St. John Ambulance Association (India) Long Service Badge, silver, and an attractive portrait miniature in a silver glazed frame, good very fine and better (Lot) £1000-1200

Winifred Elizabeth Louise Simpson was born in March 1887, the daughter of Charles Samuel Hunting, J.P., of Slaley Hall, Northumberland, and the wife of Major John Andrew Cooper of the Calcutta Light Horse. Her war work, for which she was awarded the M.B.E., is described in The Order of the British Empire 1921:

‘Organising Secretary India’s Fund for St. Dunstan’s since 1918; Head of Work Rooms, Bengal Women’s War Depot; Official Adviser, Officers’ Family Fund, Calcutta; President Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families Association; Presidency Brigade, 1916-20; organised and acted as Secretary Calcutta War Seal Fund; Commandant of the Light Horse Section of St. John’s Ambulance; worked in St. John’s Nursing Sisters’ Convalescent Home at Masseuse in the winter of 1916-17.’