William Simpson

Personal Information
Date of Birth	unknown
Place of Birth	Aberdeen, Scotland
Death	13 Dec 1972
Place of Death	Perth, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	24 years old
Description	5'7" (1.70m) tall; weight 148 lbs (67.1 kg); ruddy complexion, blue eyes, brown hair.
Occupation	blacksmith
Religion	Presbyterian
Address	Seventh road, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife Mrs Grace Simpson
Military Information
Reg Number	1999
Date of Enlistment	6 Mar 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	51st Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements / 13th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	20 Jul 1916 - 9 Sep 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A48 Seang Bee
Date of Return	10 Sep 1917 - unknown
Ship Returned On	HMAT A38 Ulysses
Fate	Wounded in Action 11 Apr 1917 - 1st Bullecourt Returned to Australia
Monument	Armadale War Memorial (West Armadale panel) Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

William married Grace Mary Weedon in 1915 (Canning district). Electoral Roll entries - 1916 - 1917 Grace Mary at 7th road, Armadale;

War Service

Enlisted in Kalgoorlie. Entering camp on 6 Mar 1916, he was allocated to the 3rd reinforcement draft for the 51st Battalion on 4 Apr 1916.

Proceeded overseas from England to France on the HMT Princess Victoria from Folkestone on 4 Dec 1916, and was taken on strength by the 51st Battalion on 23 Dec 1916 as it came out of the line at Flers.

On 11 Apr 1916, Bill was one of a number of local men involved in an action that was later to be known as 1st Bullecourt. The 51st Battalion was holding the front line to the right of Bullecourt itself. While the battalion's war diary doesn't make specific mention of activities that day, it does note that for the period they were in he line they lost 49 KIA and 200 WIA. Given they didn't participate in the attack itself, it is reasonable to assume that most were casualties from artillery bombardments.

Bill's wound was a shell wound to his right arm. After receiving early treatment from the 4th Australian Field Ambulance and the 1st General Hospital in Etretat, France, Bill was evacuated to England on the HMHS Grantully Castle from Le Havre on 22 Apr 1917 and admitted to the Bath War Hospital.

Identified for early return to Australia, in late July at Monte Video camp in Weymouth, he was 2 days late returning from his post hospital furlough. Charged with being AWOL, he was confined to barracks for 4 days, with the loss of 3 days pay.

Discharged on 3 May 1918 by the 5th Military District.

293rd Casualty List includes W Simpson (Armadale) as being wounded

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1916 - 1917 Grace Mary at 7th road, Armadale; 1925 - 1926 at 12 Swansea street, Victoria Park, labourer ; Grace died on 28 Jul 1928 in Victoria Park.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial