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Mar 26, 1890
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Born in Lancaster, Lancashire, England to John
and Elizabeth (nee Rushton) Simpson
In July of 1909 he married Elizabeth Tennant in
Lancashire, England
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Apr 5, 1912
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Embarked the SS Corsican in Liverpool with his
wife and son, John.
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Apr 14, 1912
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Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded
to Berlin (Kitchener), Ontario
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Jan 15, 1915
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Attested into the 34th Battalion CEF
in Berlin, Ontario (note that the town changed its name to Kitchener
September 1, 1916)
Ø Number 402404
Ø Next of kin given as Mrs.
Elizabeth Simpson, wife, 60 Breithaupt St., Berlin (Kitchener), Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as
Colour Mixer
Ø Previous military experience
given as 1 year in the 10th West Lancashire Royal Field Artillery
in England
Ø Religion given as Wesleyan
Ø Assigned to the battalion’s 2nd
Reinforcing Draft
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Aug 17, 1915
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The 34th Battalion’s 2nd
Reinforcing Draft embarked the SS Hesperian in Montreal, Quebec
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Aug 27, 1915
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The draft disembarked in Liverpool, England and
proceeded to Shorncliffe where the men were absorbed into the 9th
Reserve Battalion to continue training.
Private Simpson was assigned to “B” Company.
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Nov 17, 1915
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Admitted to the Moore Barracks Military Hospital
in Shorncliffe with a diagnosis that reads Ingrown Toenails in both feet and
surgery was performed to correct the problem.
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Nov 23, 1915
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Discharged to duty from hospital
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Dec 23, 1915
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Admitted to the Grange Convalescent Hospital in
Monks Horton with a diagnosis that reads Ingrown Toenails in both feet.
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Dec 27, 1915
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Discharged to duty from hospital
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Jan 19, 1916
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Transferred to the 21st Battalion
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Jan 20, 1916
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the
Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 706 reinforcements from
England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion
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Feb 3, 1916
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After leaving the base depot, Private Simpson
joined the 21st Battalion in the front line N & O trenches
near Voormezeele, Belgium, in what was called the Ypres Salient and assigned
to the Machine Gun Section
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Jun 12, 1916
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The 21st Battalion was in the Ypres
Salient 33 to 38 trenches when they came under a high explosive artillery
attack that wounded 14 and killed 6.
Private John Simpson was among those killed. He was buried in the Bedford House
Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium
Following the war, the British War Medal, Victory
Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross (below) were sent
to his widow, Mrs. E. King (she had remarried), 96 Peter St., Kitchener,
Ontario
A second Memorial Cross was sent to his mother,
Mrs. E. Simpson, No. 4 Sun St., Lancaster, Lancashire, England
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Herbert McBride
wrote about the action that day in his book
A Rifleman Went to War, on page 220
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