George Hamilton Sim

Colonel George Hamilton Sim CB CMG (19 November 1852 – 27 December 1929[1]) was a British Army officer who served with the Royal Engineers in various campaigns in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

In his youth, he was a keen amateur sportsman and played association football for the Royal Engineers, being on the winning side in the 1875 FA Cup Final.

[1] When Sim joined the Royal Engineers, they were among the top football teams in England, having reached the final of the first FA Cup tournament in 1872 and again two years later, finishing on both occasions as runners-up.

[7] The Engineers reached the FA Cup Final for the third time in four years in 1875 but only after a hard semi-final against Oxford University, with a 1–1 draw followed by a 1–0 victory in the replay.

Shortly after the equaliser, Richard Ruck collided with Cuthbert Ottaway who was forced to leave the field with a serious ankle injury; in his absence, the Old Boys were regarded as fortunate to have held on for a 1–1 draw.

[2] On 4 October 1899, Sim was promoted to lieutenant-colonel,[17] following which he was sent to South Africa in November as Commander Royal Engineers with the 5th Division,[2] part of the Natal Field Force.

[18] Immediately on his arrival in South Africa, he led the Royal Engineers at the Relief of Ladysmith, including the operations of 17 to 24 January 1900, and the action at Spion Kop.

[19] During the remainder of 1900, Sim commanded the Royal Engineers in various operations in Transvaal and Natal, including the action at Laing's Nek on 6 to 9 June, before moving into the Orange River Colony at the end of the year, where he remained for the duration of the war.

[2] For his services in South Africa, Sim was mentioned in despatches three times by Lord Roberts,[20][21] following which, on 19 April 1901, he was appointed a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.).