Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War 1918 ‘Second Battle of Sambre’ D.C.M., M.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant J. Sims, 32nd Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, late North Staffordshire Regiment, who distinguished himself at the Oise-Sambre Canal during the last set-piece battle fought by the B.E.F. on the Western Front, 4 November 1918. The latter resulted in the award of 7 Victoria Crosses, and notably amongst the casualties, the death of the poet Wilfred Owen

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (9795 Sjt. J. Sims. M.M. 32/M.G.C.); Military Medal, G.V.R. (9795 Cpl. J. Sims. 32/M.G.C.); 1914-15 Star (10639 Pte. J. Sims. N. Staff. R.); British War and Victory Medals (10639 Sjt. J. Sims. N. Staff. R.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (7807382 Sjt. J. Sims. M.G.C.) mounted court-style for display, edge bruising overall, otherwise nearly very fine (6) £2,000-£2,400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Paul Bentley Collection.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 18 February 1919; citation published 10 January 1920:

‘On the 4th November, 1918, he went forward with his officer to reconnoitre the position of a bridge to be built across the Oise-Sambre Canal, near Ors, and then returned and guided his section to it under heavy fire. On three occasions, after crossing the canal, he worked forward and succeeded in silencing enemy machine guns which were holding up the infantry.’

M.M. London Gazette 27 June 1918.

John Sims was a native of Burton-on-Trent, and served during the Great War with the North Staffordshire Regiment on the Western Front from 2 May 1915. He subsequently transferred to the Machine Gun Corps, and won his D.C.M. and M.M. whilst serving with 32nd Battalion, M.G.C. on the Western Front. The D.C.M. was awarded for the Second Battle of Sambre, 4 November 1918 - the last set-piece battle fought by the B.E.F. on the Western Front. During the latter, 13 Divisions attacked the German positions over a 20 mile front, resulting in the award of 7 Victoria Crosses and notably amongst the casualties, the death of the poet Wilfred Owen.

The Armistice was signed a week later, and after the Great War Sims continued to serve with the M.G.C. during operations in Iraq 1919-20.