The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

The Q.S.A. awarded to Private S. G. Gimson, 1st Volunteer Battalion, Middlesex Regiment and City of London Imperial Volunteers, later 32nd Imperial Yeomanry and Royal Fusiliers, who was invalided home from South Africa but returned to the front in both the Boer War and the Great War, was awarded the Military Medal, and was fatally wounded at the Battle of Messines

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, South Africa 1902, last clasp loose on riband (358 Pte. S. G. Gimsons [sic], C.I.V.) good very fine £240-£280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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M.M. London Gazette 22 January 1917.

Stanley George Gimson was born in Tottenham, Middlesex in 1881. A carpenter by occupation, he joined the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Middlesex Regiment before serving in South Africa with No. 2 Company, Mounted Infantry, City Imperial Volunteers during the Boer War. Invalided home on 26 May 1900, the City Press described him as ‘recently returned home sick’ on 18 July 1900. The Middlesex Gazette, 1 December 1900, reported on Gimson’s attendance at a banquet for the 22 C.I.V. men from Wood Green and Tottenham, with Colonel Mackinnon also present, given on 26 November 1900 at Markfield Hall, High Road, Tottenham.

Once recovered, Gimson attested for the 143rd Company, 32nd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry at Cockspur Street, London on 1 January 1902. Returning to South Africa, he served there again from 8 May 1902 until 17 October 1902, receiving the South Africa 1902 clasp to his Q.S.A. in addition to those awarded for his earlier service with the C.I.V. He was discharged at his own request on 26 October 1902, later finding work as a conductor with D.B.B. Tramways.

After the outbreak of the Great War, Gimson attested for the 22nd (Kensington) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers on 8 September 1914, serving with them on the Western Front from 16 November 1915. Promoted Corporal and appointed Lance Sergeant on 14 January 1916, he received shrapnel wounds to his eye, ear, and hands on 14 September 1916 and returned to England on 24 September via the 13th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne. Upon recuperation he embarked again for France on 11 January 1917, was immediately posted to the 26th (Bankers) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and was awarded the M.M. for his earlier service with the 22nd Battalion. Confirmed Sergeant on 1 April 1917, he received a gun-shot wound to his back on 7 June 1917, the first day of the Battle of Messines. He was sent back to England on the Hospital Ship S.S. Essequibo with paraplegia and a fractured spine and was discharged wounded on 10 October 1917, receiving a Silver War Badge on 30 October 1917. He died of his wounds on 14 November 1918 and is buried in Tottenham Cemetery.

Note: the recipient’s name is recorded as Gimson in all documents other than the Q.S.A. medal roll, which records it incorrectly as Gimsons.