Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An extremely rare Lake Tanganyika 1915-16 Expedition D.S.M. awarded to Chief Petty Officer W. E. Sims, Royal Navy, who was ‘the life and soul of the crews’ and, more unusually, served as Gun-layer of the loaned Belgian vessel “Vengeur”

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (199647 W. E. Sims, P.O., Tanganyika, 1915-16) minor official correction, contact marks, otherwise very fine £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Richard Magor Collection of Medals Relating to India and Africa, and other Fine Awards.

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D.S.M. London Gazette 1 January 1917. The recommendation states:

‘Petty Officer William E. Sims assisted Lieutenant Dudley in the organisation and control of the native labourers. He also acted as gun-layer in the Belgian vessel Vengeur and brought his gun’s crew, which consisted of raw material, to a high state of perfection. He was the life and soul of the crews, always cheerful and lively under conditions both trying mentally and uncomfortable physically.’

During the latter part of the Tanganyika Expedition in 1916, the British not only increased their lake-going strength with captured German vessels, but also via loans from the Belgians, the Vengeur being a case in point. She receives due recognition in The Phantom Flotilla, although whether she ever went into action remains unknown:

‘The old and battered Vengeur, the only vessel capable of carrying a gun to match even the smaller German gunboats, couldn’t be ready for sea for several weeks though the E.R.As were working on her ... Taking advantage of a calm day, Spicer Simpson brought her out of the Lukuga River, where she had lain for more than a year, and moored her in the new harbour. He ordered the Kingani’s 6-pounder to be mounted on her foredeck - this was a British gun that had been taken by the German cruiser Konisberg from a merchantman in the Indian Ocean. When recaptured in the Kingani it had 200 rounds of ammunition with it.’

William Ernest Sims was born in Plymouth in July 1882 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in June 1898. Advanced to Petty Officer on the eve of hostilities, he served in the cruiser Defence from August 1914 until January 1915, thereafter coming ashore in readiness for his role in the Tanganyika Expedition. Also the recipient of the L.S. & G.C. Medal, which he received in November 1915, Sims was finally pensioned ashore as a Chief Petty Officer in July 1922.

Withdrawn