Description
Crimea Medal, 3 bars, Alma, Balaklava, Sebastopol, 1352 Private William Simpson, 42nd Royal Highlanders, 21 years service including Bermuda, Keeper of the Alloa Volunteer Armoury, 1st Clackmannanshire Volunteers
Contemporarily engraved in decorative unique regimental style: “1352 William Simpson 42nd Royal Highlanders.”
See Page 341, ‘By Order of Her Majesty’ The Crimea Medal, for identical naming photos to Angus Bowie, 42nd Highlanders, also page 151 for the medal of William Stewart, noted as “Skeleton” style unique to the regiment.
Good condition with original piece of silk ribbon.
With copy service papers.
William Simpson, was a Scotsman from Alloa, Clackmannanshire, born there in 1820, he joined the army aged 19 and saw much overseas service, including over 4 years in Bermuda in the late 1840s, during which the 42nd Highlanders guarded and suppressed the transported convicts sent there particularly from the “Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848”.
Following from that he saw significant fighting in the Crimean War, earning this medal, with clasps for his service in action at the Battles of Alma, Balaklava and the Siege of Sebastopol.
To top of his career, he followed it up with the Indian Mutiny, earning the clasp for the Siege of Lucknow, the 42nd also saw fighting in the Siege of Cawnpore. He finally added at his retirement, the Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal.
Not satisfied with his 21 year Army Career, he returned home to Clackmannanshire and kept himself busy by taking up the role of Keeper of the Alloa Volunteer Armoury which he held for another 19 years until his death.
After 2 decades of soldiering, he would die many years later by his own hand, following the heartbreak caused by the death of his wife.
His Obituary in the local Alloa Advertiser, 10th September 1881:
“FATAL EVENT
On Saturday last, it was discovered that William Simpson, an old pensioner, and Keeper of the Volunteer Armoury, residing at New Sauchie, attempted to commit suicide by cutting his throat. The windpipe was nearly severed, but fortunately the main artery was uninjured, and Dr Home Hay, who was sent for, sewed the wound, and had the unfortunate man conveyed to Alloa Hospital.
Simpson, has been in a desponding state since the death of his wife, which occurred several weeks ago. Simpson succumbed to the effects of his wound at midnight on Thursday.
He served 21 years as a Private in the 42nd Regiment (Black Watch), and was discharged in 1861 with a pension of 1/1 per day.
Along with his regiment he served in North America and in the Mediterranean, and passed through the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny.
Deceased was a quiet inoffensive man, was a marker for the 1st Clackmannanshire Volunteers, and was keeper of the Volunteery Armour for 19 years.
The funeral takes place tomorrow, as will be seen from an advertisement.”
William Simpson was born in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, during 1820.
Having worked as a Wool spinner he signed on for service with the 42nd Highlanders at Edinburgh on 29th January 1840.
He would see 21 years and 5 days of service, of which 14 years and 8 months were spent overseas consisting of:
“Corfu & Malta, 6 Years 4 Months
Bermuda, 4 Years 2 Months
Nova Scotia, 1 Year
Turkey + Crimea 2 Years 2 Months
Bengal East Indies 1 Year”
He was discharged “His having completed 21 years service to pension”
“Character has been very good.
He is in possession of 5 good conduct badges, he has never been tried by a court martial.
He is in possession of the medal and gratuity for Long Service and Good Conduct.”
Of interest is his 4 years of service in Bermuda from 1847 to 1851 which is covered in detail below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/42nd_Regiment_of_Foot#The_Victorian_era
