13th BATTALION - 33rd BATTALION - 36th BATTALION A.I.F.
Lieutenant Colonel: James William Albert SIMPSON. M.C.
Born: 26th October 1882. Preston, Melbourne, Victoria.
Married: 1909. Victoria, Australia.
Wife: Grace Elizabeth Simpson. nee: Handley. (1885-19..)
Died: 21st January 1917. Killed in Action Armentieres, France.
Father: Robert Simpson. (1860-1945)
Mother: May Lilly Simpson. nee: Sutton. (1859-1910)
INFORMATIONJames William Albert Simpson served with the 43rd Infantry (Werriwa) before he enlisted with the 13th Battalion AIF on the 16th of November 1914 with the rank of Captain.
43rd Infantry. School of Musketry Certificate.
James proceeded overseas for Gallipoli and landed on the 25th of April 1915 on the first day of the campaign. He fought on at the Gallipoli Peninsula until the 6th of June and had a very strenuous time. On the 29th of May James was Wounded in Action; 1st occasion when he was struck by a bomb explosion which produced blindness for five days in his left eye. James also contracted gastritis and was ordered away.
MILITARY CROSSCaptain: James William SIMPSON. 13th Battalion AIF. On 2nd May 1915, during an attack in the neighborhood of GABA TEPE for showing conspicuous bravery and skill in directing the Battalion through un reconnoitered scrub. He was conspicuously active in consolidating the position gained under heavy fire.
James collapsed on the 6th of June which was the day he left Gallipoli. He was delirious till he arrived at Malta and landed in England on the 24th of July and admitted to the Wandsworth Hospital on the 13th of August. James was still suffering from Insomnia and extreme Neurasthenia.
MENTIONED IN DISPATCHESLondon Gazette 5th August 1915. Page 7668 Position 68.
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 28th of October 1915. Page 2737 Position 30.
James returned to Australia on board the Hospital Ship "Kanowana" in October 1915 to rest and recover from his injuries received at Gallipoli but after nearly 3 months of rest James was cleared by the Army Medical Board as fit for active service and was appointed to A Company 33rd Battalion AIF with the rank of Major and left Sydney on board HMAT A74 "Marathon" on the 4th of May 1916 and disembarked at Plymouth, England on the 9th of July and was marched in the the 9th Training Battalion at the Durrington Army Camp at Larks Hill.
After only 2 months in England James was promoted to the Temporary Rank of Lieutenant Colonel and transferred to the 36th Battalion as Commanding Officer after Lieutenant Colonel: Marcus William LOGAN 36th Battalion was transferred to Command the 62nd Battalion. James proceeded overseas for France via Southampton on the 22nd of November and was Killed in Action Armentieres, France on the 21st of January 1917. James was buried with Full Military Honours and commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the Cite Bon Jean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France. The service was conducted by the reverend G.S. Richmond attached to the 33rd Battalion. He was killed near the trench called Cambridge Avenue, 3 other men were killed and several injured by a German Shell.
Lieutenant: James John MCGRATH
Lance Corporal: 594 Henry Bede WADDUPS. (Bateman to Lt Col SIMPSON)
Private: 1160 Albert August KLOESTER. (Bandsman and Runner to Lt Col SIMPSON)
23rd February 1917.
Informant; Private: 5075 Thomas PANTLIN. C Company, 36th Battalion No:9 Platoon. Lieutenant Colonel: James William Albert SIMPSON commanded the Battalion. Whilst we were in our trenches at a place called Cambridge Avenue on the 21st of January, I saw a shell fall close to Colonel SIMPSON who was with another Officer and two men, and the shell killed them all. Colonel SIMPSON was buried at Armentieres Cemetery. The grave is well kept, I have seen it. He was an extremely popular Officer and showed great kindness to everyone in the Regiment.
No: 3 Canadian Hospital, BOULONGE.
26th February 1917.
Informant; Corporal: 1225 Thomas John SHAW D Company, No:16 Platoon, 36th Battalion AIF. I knew Lieutenant Colonel: James William Albert SIMPSON. M.C had been killed on the 21st of January at ARMENTIERES. I have seen his grave in ARMENTIERES CEMETERY soon after his burial. I do not know if there is a cross put up but I am sure one would be put up for him. He was immensely popular in the Regiment and his death caused great depression.
No:3 Canadian General Hospital, BOULOGNE.
3rd March 1917.
Informant; Private: 2156 William JACK. C Company, 36th Battalion AIF. Lieutenant Colonel: James William Albert SIMPSON was killed in the Gas Alarm Post, Cambridge Avenue, near Armentieres. I can't remember if it was in January or February. I was about 20 yards the other side when it happened, about half past ten in the morning. He was killed out right, and buried in the Cemetery at Armentieres.
14th General Hospital, BOULGNE.
3rd March 1917.
Informant; Private: 176 Oscar Norman SMITH. A Company, 36th Battalion AIF. Lieutenant Colonel: James William Albert SIMPSON was in a communication trench near Houplines, Armentieres about the 21st of January with another officer, an Irishman Lieutenant: James John McGRATH and there batman, when a whiz bang came over and killed all four of them. I saw Lieutenant Colonel: SIMPSON being carried out of the trenches. He had died instantaneously, half his head being taken off. I don't know where he was buried but probably it was at the burial ground in Armentieres.
Stirchley Hospital.
6th March 1917.
Informant; Corporal: 455 Edwin Everingham FRAZER. 36th Battalion AIF. I know that Lieutenant Colonel: James William Albert SIMPSON was killed instantly by a shell, as I saw his body being carried past me out of the trench to the rear. He had been badly mutilated.
Lewisham Military Hospital.
13th March 1917.
Informant; Private: 1162 Henry LEPPANEN. 36th Battalion. Armentieres, Lieutenant Colonel: James William Albert SIMPSON was killed on the spot and several others with him. He was buried at Armentieres near the Military Cemetery. Informant said how much to Colonel was beloved by his men, and also spoke of his bravery. The ground was afterwards held. The informant was eye witness and it was light at the time.
Kitchener's Hospital.
20th June 1917.
Sister SIMPSON, Ward B.20 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, Kent. Dear Madam, We regret that are unable to obtain the number of the grave of Lieutenant Colonel: James William Albert SIMPSON 36th Battalion AIF who is buried in the Cite Bonjean Cemetery, Armentieres, this information not being recorded at AIF Headquarters. We should however advise you to apply to the Director of Graves Registration and Inquiry, War Officer, Winchester House, St James Square who will doubtless be able to give you the desired information. Regretting on inability to help you further.
(Studio Photo; Australian War Memorial)
Grave of Lieutenant Colonel: James William Albert SIMPSON (1882-1917)
Cite Bonjean Cemetery, Armentieres,
Family InformationJames was 33 year old from The Grammer School, Albury, N.S.W upon enlistment.
Eyewitnesses : "Lieut. Col. Simpson was in a communication trench near Houplines Armentieres about the 21st January with another officer, an Irishman, (Lieut. McGrath) and their batman when a wizz-bang came over and killed all four of them. I saw Lieut. Col. Simpson being carried out of the trenches. He died instantaneously, half his head being taken off ..." (Private. O. M. Smith, 175, 36th A.I.F.) Notes : James Simpson was highest ranking serviceman from the district killed during the war. On his death, the Leader suggested he had been in Albury for 10 to 12 years and his father, a wheelwright in Plenty Road, had been a well-known temperance worker and church leader in Preston. The family lived in Garnet Street and seem to have moved from Preston about the same time as James moved to Albury. A sister, Amy Alice, and Brother Edgar also enlisted, Amy dying in October, 1922 from the effects of influenza and pneumonia contracted while serving on a hospital ship. Before joining the A.I.F. Simpson had twelve years of military training and was serving when he enlisted. He was appointed Second Lieutenant on enlisting, to Captain immediately prior to embarking in December, to Major, 29 April, 1916 and to Lieutenant Colonel on 18 September, 1916. He was awarded the Military Cross at Gallipoli June 3, 1915, and coincidentally was repatriated to Malta and then England the following day with gastritis. A Medical Board recommended his return to Australia "for 12 months change". Simpson was invalided to Australia suffering serious bout of neurasthenia, an now obscure term then meaning "psychological disorder
Military Records
© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)
Under Construction; 15/07/2009-24/05/2018.
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