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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 213

A 1966 O.B.E., 'Crossing of the Po' 1945 M.C. group of eight awarded to Colonel D. A. H. Sime, Royal Artillery, who documented his experiences throughout the Second World War in a series of diaries

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, 2nd Type, Officer's (O.B.E.) breast Badge, silver-gilt; Military Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse dated '1945'; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1977; Territorial Decoration, E.II.R., the reverse dated '1964', mounted court-style for wear, sold together with a comprehensive archive including the original named slip of issue for the recipient's Military Cross, good very fine (8)

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1966.

M.C. London Gazette 23 August 1945, the original Recommendation states:

'After a strenuous 8 days of continuous action as FOO with 10 (US) Myn Div, often with his wireless set on mules, Capt Sime arrived just South of the river Po on 23 Apr 45 to find that his inf were intending to force a crossing that same morning. Although he had been employed the whole of the previous night and had had no sleep, he refused his CO's offer to have him relieved, but volunteered to go up to the river bank immediately, establish an OP, support the crossing and follow the inf across if necessary. This he did most successfully although enemy 88mm shells were bursting accurately over his head from the moment the crossing started and he had no cover. He got across successfully with his inf commander, established a series of OPs and maintained accurate observed fire in support of the bridge head for the next 48 hours, while the bridge was being constructed. The undaunted spirt and gallantry of this officer, his coolness and efficiency under fire, and his untiring efforts to wipe away all opposition with his guns, gained the admiration of all concerned.'

David Alistair Hope Sime was born at Edinburgh, Midloathian on 2 August 1920 the son of Janet and Major William Sime. Attending Loretto School, Musselburgh, Lothian, from 1933 he was a head of house, Deputy Head Boy and member of the 1st XV Rugby team as well as a keen piper and member of the drama society. He carried this enthusiasm for activities with him to university, being accepted for Jesus College, Cambridge to study economics. This degree however, was to be cut short by the outbreak of the Second World War, the spread of this conflict Sime followed with interest in a series of diaries which he was to maintain until the end of the war.

Enlisting as a Cadet with the Royal Artillery on 17 October 1940 and it was not until 6 September 1941 that he was posted into the 178th (Lowland) Medium Regiment as 2nd Lieutenant. This must have pleased Sime as that Regiment was the successor to the unit his father had served with the in the Great War, the Lowland Gunners. As a territorial unit the battery need time for both training and equipping and in the event it was not until 1942 that they were ready for positing. The excitement in Sime's diary when the news was announced is palpable, 'Well, at last the great day has arrived + we are going to war!'

Notably there is then a three month gap in his journal, this covering the arrival of the unit in North Africa and the Battle of El-Alamein. It is explained in the next volume which contains a note that the diary was lost. He did however cover the start of 1943 including the actions around the Mareth Line in good detail, for example the entry for the 24 February 1943 which states:

'Well, I don't much relish my new job as D troop commander in spite of the 3 pips. Rather a difficult time to change over - still I am going to crack at it hard. After 3 pretty gruesome days in the O.P. with the Staffs, very glad to be relieved as, I must admit, I had been as scared as hell, shells all day long and many dead bodies & bits of dead bodies! I never felt on form. Sunday I spent with McKinlay (the day after the attack on a point by the road) in a slit [trench] almost on the road and little peace to observe.'

Despite these tribulations he survived and as the diary makes clear was thrived, being advanced Lieutenant for his trouble. Sime was present for the invasion of Sicily although this is not covered in his diary which jumps from North Africa directly to Anzio. Here his unit was attached to the American 10th Mountain Division with whom they were to fight his way north into Italy proper.

The Military Cross winning action itself, is related in rather businesslike terms. Noting, almost in passing, 'the Heavy (AA) airburst shelling all afternoon from guns very close. Most unpleasant.'. He goes on to describe a journey back across the Po to fetch another radio handset adding 'hard work paddling', but not-on this occasion- feeling the need to mention the accurate 88mm artillery fire. That is not to say that Sime escaped totally unscathed as he later notes 'Uneventful morning in Church Op. My washbowl with a large shrapnel hole in it' after so many days of constant action it is remarkable that this was the closest he came to harm. His diary relates days spent observing at the front with no sign of exhaustion or wavering of spirit.

It was only a month later that Sime was to hear of the end of the war with a suitably and characteristically laconic comment summing up the situation, 'News of Mussolini execution & surrender of german armies in N.W. Italy. This decidedly good'. Despite the end of the war he was to continue serving for some time, being demobilised on 5 July 1946 with the final diary entry marked by a handwritten note stating 'At this point I have up which on reflection was a pity!'.

Despite the close of his diaries Sime by no means done, returning to the life he had lain down in 1940 he qualified as an accountant, joining the firm of Glover and Main. Here he was to thrive, eventually becoming a Director of the firm alongside his wife's Uncle, Colonel William Glover, D.S.O. The same Colonel Glover put Sime up to become a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, an organisation he devoted much time to, being appointed Master no less than three times. Another master of laconic humour, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh- upon being introduced to Sime as Master of Haberdashers- remarked:

'You don't look much like a haberdasher to me.'

This may very well have been the case as Sime had remained active in the Territorial Army after the war and had risen the rank of Colonel by 1966. In that rank he was to become commander of the Surrey Yeomanry on 1 April 1969. Sime maintained his like with the Royal Artillery, acting as chairman of the National Artillery Association for 10 years. Following the sale of Glover and Main and the death of William Glover he took over the running of the latter's farm, Lythe Farm at Steep, Hampshire where Sime was well known for the breeding Red Poll Cattle. He died at Petersfield, Hampshire on 29 December 2010; sold together with a comprehensive archive comprising:

i)
Twelve diaries dated between 1939-1946, written by the recipient.

ii)
Notebook named to the recipient as a Captain.

iii)
Field cooking pot.

iv)
Active Service, New Testament named to 'D. Sime Capt.'

v)
Spare Ribands along with spare medals comprising the Africa Star, Italy Star and War Medal 1939-45.

vi)
Cases of issue for both the O.B.E. and M.C., the latter also with its named slip of issue.

vii)
A number of photographs of the recipient in unform as well as group photos and images of Africa and Italy.

viii)
An menu for the recipient's 'Fairwell Dinner' in 1946, signed by those present.

ix)
Newspaper cuttings.

x)
Correspondence and documentation both personal and official.

xi)
An identification card.

xii)
Several typed documents as well as some published articles describing the fighting in Africa and Italy.

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Sold for
£1,900

Starting price
£1200