Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Quartermaster Sergeant F. A. Simpson, Imperial Yeomanry

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, date clasp loose, as issued (578 Q.M.S. F, A. Simpson. 9th. Coy. 3rd. Imp: Yeo:); Yorkshire Imperial Yeomanry Medal 1900-1902, 3rd Battalion, South Africa 1900-1901 (578 Q.M.S. F. A. Simpson) number and rank unofficially re-engraved on both, good very fine (2) £400-£500

Francis Arthur Simpson was born in Hull in 1871. A timber merchant, he attested at Sheffield for the Imperial Yeomanry on 6 January 1900 serving in South Africa with the 9th (Yorkshire Hussars) Company, 3rd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry from 28 January 1900 to 17 June 1901. Initially appointed Private, his Army Service Record notes that he was raised Corporal and saw action at Lindley, Oliphant’s Nek and at Rhenoster River. The latter held strategic importance as the location of a temporary railway bridge as well as being the location of food and ammunition stores; repeatedly attacked by the Boers, it proved a particularly tempting target which the British attempted to protect via a series of trenches and blockhouses. Further advanced Sergeant, Simpson was invalided home and discharged at his own request on 17 July 1901. There is no evidence that he ever held the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant.

Sold with the original and rare Spink & Son fitted case of issue for the Yorkshire Imperial Yeomanry Medal, this damaged and separated at hinges, and a small Norton & District Cricket League 9ct. gold and enamel fob, by Fattorini, 6.16g, engraved to reverse ‘N & D C L 1909 D.G.N.’