SIMPSON, Joseph Henry
| Service Number: | 3093 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 May 1918 |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | Railway Unit (AIF) |
| Born: | Shap, Westmorland, England, 13 April 1885 |
| Home Town: | Boggabri, Narrabri, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Shunter |
| Died: | Broncho pneumonia, 56th Australian General Hospital, Etaples, France, , 29 November 1918, aged 33 years |
| Cemetery: |
Etaples Military Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 25 May 1918: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3093, Reinforcements WW1 | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Jul 1918: | Involvement Private, 3093, Railway Unit (AIF), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Jul 1918: | Embarked Private, 3093, Railway Unit (AIF), HMAT Borda, Sydney | |
| 29 Nov 1918: | Involvement Sapper, 3093, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3093 awm_unit: Australian Railway Operating Division Depot awm_rank: Sapper awm_died_date: 1918-11-29 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Joseph Henry SIMPSON was born on 13th April 1885 at Shap in the English County of Westmorland. He came to Australia when he was 21-years-old.
In 1909 he married Mary Nixon, their marriage being registered at Sydney. They had four children: Mary born in 1911, Margaret Olive (known as Olive) born in 1913, Joseph born in 1914 and John (Jack) born in 1917. All four births were registered at Boggabri where, according to information provided by Joseph’s wife in his Roll of Honour circular, they were engaged in farming.
On 5th July 1916 Joseph joined the NSW Government Railways and Tramways as a porter (temporary) in the Murrurundi District of the Traffic Branch. Just three weeks later, on 27th July 1916 his services were dispensed with. he was reinstated on 4th December 1916. On 4th August 1917 his services were dispensed with again, only to be reinstated again on 23rd August 1917. On 28th October 1917 he achieved his objective of permanent employment when he was appointed as a porter in the Murrurundi District of the Traffic Branch. A note on his record card dated 27th September 1917 states: ‘Applied for permanent employment though under standard height. Approved as a special case.’
On 3rd November 1917 he was appointed as a 3rd class shunter in the Murrurundi District of the Traffic Branch. He held this position until 1st August 1918 when he was upgraded to adult shunter but beforehand, on 9th June 1918, he was granted leave to join the Expeditionary Forces.
Joseph actually enlisted in the AIF twice. The first time was at Narrabri on 26th February 1916. On this occasion he was assigned to the 33rd Battalion Reinforcements with the rank of Private (Service Number 10133). He nominated his wife as his next of kin and he gave his occupation as ‘Farmer’. At this time his address was at Baan Baa. However, due to flat feet, he was rejected and discharged.
He enlisted for the second time in Sydney on 4th June 1918. He was assigned to the May Reinforcements to the Railway Corps with the rank of Private (Service Number 3093). Once again, he nominated his wife as next of kin. This time he gave his occupation as ‘Shunter NSW Gov. Railway’. On this occasion he gave his address as being in Boggabri.
Joseph embarked for England aboard HMAT A30 ‘Borda’ at Sydney on 17th July 1918 and disembarked at London on 27th September 1918. With his rank reclassified as Sapper, he marched in to the Railway Operating Division Depot at Longmoor on 28th September 1918. On 3rd November 1918 he left there for France where he marched in to the Australian Gunnery Base Depot at Le Havre on 5th November 1918. He left there on 16th November 1918 (that is, after the Armistice) to join his unit (the Railway Operating Section). On 18th November 1918, while en route to his unit, he reported sick and was admitted to the 56th Australian General Hospital at Etaples (France) with bronchitis.
On 25th November 1918 he was reported to be dangerously ill and on 29th November 1918 died due to the effects of broncho-pneumonia.
Joseph’s grave is in Etaples Military Cemetery, Etaples, Nord Pas de Calais, France. His place of association in Australia is Boggabri, NSW.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honoiur Board
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