Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare inter-war O.B.E., Great War D.S.C. and Second Award Bar group of ten awarded to Captain H. A. Simpson, Royal Navy, who was twice decorated for his services in destroyers, most notably in the celebrated Swift and Broke action off Dover in April 1917

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, hallmarked London 1933; Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarked London 1916 and additionally engraved ‘H. A. Simpson H.M.S. Swift 21st April 1917’, with Second Award Bar; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. H. A. Simpson. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lieut. H. A. Simpson. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, 5th Class breast badge, silver, gilt and enamels, mounted for wearing, generally good very fine (10) £3,000-£4,000

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1935.

D.S.C. London Gazette 10 May 1917.

‘Honours for service in the action between H.M. Ships Swift and Broke and German destroyers on the night of the 20-21 of April 1917.’

The original recommendation states:

Lieutenant Henry Antony Simpson, R.N. Executive Officer and Gunnery Lieutenant of H.M.S. Swift. He displayed great coolness and method in the control of fire which he had very ably organised and zealously drilled, and greatly assisted his commanding officer throughout the action.’

Bar to D.S.C. London Gazette 23 May 1917:

‘For service in Destroyer Flotillas for the period ending on 30 September 1916.’

Legion of Honour London Gazette 1 January 1935.

Henry Anthony Simpson was born at Currie, Edinburgh on 15 November 189,3 and entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in September 1906. Appointed a Midshipman in H.M.S. Shannon in May 1911, he removed to the cruiser Psyche in January 1914 and was serving in her in New Zealand waters at the outbreak of hostilities; she assisted at the occupation of German Samoa.

Back home, Simpson commenced a spate of appointments in torpedo boat destroyers, taking command of T.B. 043 on his promotion to Lieutenant in 1915. Like command of T.B. 063 and T.B. 044 ensued in the period leading up to October 1916, when he joined the flotilla leader Swift.

The brainchild of Admiral ‘Jackie’ Fisher, Swift had been launched in December 1907, her design and armament intended for superior speed and fire power. Although the Admiral’s good intentions didn’t quite live up to expectation, Swift lent valuable service and fought alongside her consort Broke in the celebrated action against German destroyers off Dover on the night of 21-22 April 1917. Swift torpedoed and sank the G. 85 but was herself damaged by return fire.

The following is an extract from the official action report submitted by Commander A. M. Peck, R.N., Swift’s C.O.:

‘I have the honour to report that while on patrol in company with H.M.S. Broke this morning at 0.45 a.m. in a position 3 miles to the eastward of South Goodwin Light Vessel, a division of 5 enemy destroyers were met with and engaged. We were steaming at 12 knots, when the enemy were sighted by the Leading Signalman on Watch on the port bow. Immediately afterwards, the enemy opened fire. I at once ordered full speed ahead both, and observing the enemy vessels to be steaming in line ahead on an opposite course, ordered hard-a-starboard with the intention of ramming if possible. Flashes from enemy’s funnels revealed their position and made it obvious they were working up to high speed.

We opened fire immediately. Owing to the blinding effect of the 6-inch gun we failed to ram, and passing through their line I found myself engaging closely an enemy vessel on my port side. The after torpedo, set to run cold on the surface, was observed to hit this ship on her starboard quarter, and she also suffered from our gun fire. One hit from the 6-inch gun setting fire to the fore end of the ship. She was at this time steering a diverging course about 150-300 yards on my port beam.

The course was again altered to port with the intention of ramming another vessel, but at this time all officers on the bridge were very seriously incommoded by the flash of the 6-inch gun, the blinding effect of which lasted for half a minute or more and I attribute our failure to use the ram to this cause, as we undoubtedly passed very close under the stern of an enemy boat.

After thus missing her the helm was put hard-a-port and we commenced a chase of at least two enemy boats, engaging one nearly end on, and were still severely hampered by gun flash blindness. Shortly afterwards it was reported to me that the Stoker’s Mess Deck, which extends from 24 station to 46 station was flooded with four feet of water. This was the first intimation I had that we had suffered any damage to our hull. It had been reported a short time previously that the main W./T. Installation was out of action as the aerial had been shot away. This had been done by a shell passing between the fore bridge and fore mast.

We had then been steering in an easterly direction at very high speed for about 10 minutes, and I concluded that I must be rapidly approaching the Barrage. This consideration together with the fact that I was ignorant of the extent of the damage to the fore mess deck induced me to abandon the chase. I therefore turned to try and find Broke whom I had lost sight of since the commencement of the action, switching on my fighting lights to ensure recognition. Shortly she flashed her name and pendants to me on an electric torch informing me that her lights were out and that she could only go dead slow. She was in the neighbourhood of an enemy destroyer badly on fire and in a sinking condition with a heavy list.

About this time I heard several voices in the water near the ship crying for help, but could see nothing owing to the pitch darkness. I sighted another destroyer right ahead of me broadside on and heard from her cries of ‘surrender’. Observing her to be very low in the water I switched the search light on her and watched her sink by the stern. I lowered boats as she went under and picked up survivors. We picked up altogether during the night and following daylight hours 6 unwounded Officers, 50 unwounded Men, 13 wounded and one dead.

I regret to report that we suffered one death casualty: J. Donell, Stoker Petty Officer, who was killed on the Stoker’s Mess Deck, and four other Stokers were injured at the same time: F. Brien and Barnes seriously, S. Sykes and J. Brooks slightly.

I cannot speak too highly of the behaviour of all Officers and Men of H.M. Ships under my Command who behaved throughout in accordance with a high tradition of the service.’

Simpson – who was Swift’s Executive and Gunnery Officer – was awarded the D.S.C., to which distinction he was gazetted for a Bar just a fortnight later, the latter recognising his earlier service in torpedo boat destroyers in the period ending September 1916, and he ended the war with command of the Chelmer.

During the inter-war period he enjoyed wide and varied service, in addition to his promotion to Commander and appointment as O.B.E. And he served as Naval Officer in Charge at Port Said for several years, where he obtained a pilot’s licence in a Gypsy Moth in September 1934.

Placed on the Retired List in November 1938, Simpson was quickly recalled on the renewal of hostilities and resumed his duties at Port Said in the acting rank of Captain. His award of the French Legion of Honour stemmed from his services in this period. Once more placed on the Retired List, he died in Portugal in March 1963.