Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Sergeant W. C. Simpson, 1/5th ‘Sandringham’ Battalion, Norfolk Regiment

British War and Victory Medals (442 Sjt., Norf. R.); together with memorial plaque (William Charles Simpson); original documentation, comprising, illuminated memorial scroll, inscribed ‘Coy. Qr. Mr. Serjt....’; letter from the Territorial Force Record Office confirming recipient has been posted as missing; transmission slip for 1914-15 Star; postcard photograph of North Walsham war memorial; and Buckingham Palace letter, extremely fine (3) £200-300

William Charles Simpson was born and enlisted at North Walsham, Norfolk. He was one of the 1/5th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, the so called ‘Vanished Battalion’ who went missing on 12 August 1915. His name is commemorated on the Helles Memorial.

The disappearance of a large number of the 1/5th Norfolk Regiment has been the subject of much debate, most recently as depicted in the BBC film All The Kings Men. The 1/5th Battalion were largely drawn up of workers from the Sandringham Estate, and were commanded by the King’s Land Agent, Frank Beck, A large number of this battalion, including Beck disappeared, having last been seen engaged in a desperate fight with the Turks on 12 August 1915. Due to the fact that the exact fate of the men of the 1/5th Battalion was at the time not known, Simpson’s name, along with all the other missing of his battalion, is simply recorded as ‘died 21 (sic) August 1915’. The incorrect date of 21 August is perhaps the date they were officially accepted as dead, or could simply be an administrative error.