SIMPSON, John Lawrence
| Service Number: | 75 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1914, Personal details: 5’7.5”, 10 stone 10 pounds, light brown hair, fair complexion, blue eyes, C of E. |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 60th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Horsham, Victoria, Australia, 1892 |
| Home Town: | Ballarat, Central Highlands, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Pleasant Street State School and Grenville College, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk/Bookkeeper |
| Died: | Killed In Action, France, 27 April 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Crucifix Corner Cemetery Block B Plot V Row B Grave 6 Personal Inscription FROM THE CONTAGION OF THIS WORLD'S SLOW STAIN THOU ART SECURE |
| Tree Plaque: |
Ballarat Avenue of Honour
|
| Memorials: | Ballarat Avenue of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 75, 8th Infantry Battalion, Personal details: 5’7.5”, 10 stone 10 pounds, light brown hair, fair complexion, blue eyes, C of E. | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 75, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 75, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Melbourne | |
| 5 Apr 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 75, 8th Infantry Battalion, per HT Clan McGillivray in preparation for the Gallipoli landings. | |
| 30 Jun 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 8th Infantry Battalion, On Gallipoli | |
| 9 Feb 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 8th Infantry Battalion, Based at Serapeum | |
| 24 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Sergeant, 60th Infantry Battalion, Based at Serapeum | |
| 18 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 75, 60th Infantry Battalion, Embarked Alexandria per HT Kinfauns Castle for Marseilles, disembarked 29 June, 1916. | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 75, 60th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , Evacuated, wounded, left arm and legs | |
| 16 Oct 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 75, 60th Infantry Battalion, Embarked Southampton per Hospital Ship Karoola, disembarked Melbourne 2 December, 1916 for six months change. | |
| 16 Jul 1917: | Involvement Lieutenant, 60th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Melbourne embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Jul 1917: | Embarked Lieutenant, 60th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Melbourne, Sydney | |
| 24 Apr 1918: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, Villers-Bretonneux, 11 May, 1918 Recommended by H.E. (Pompey) Elliott, Brigadier General, 15th Infantry Brigade, 5th Australian Division. During the preliminary advance at Villers Brettoneux, east of Amiens, on the night of 24/25 April, 1918, this officer rendered valuable assistance in the consolidation of the line. He then went out on patrol and rushed an enemy machine gun post containing several of the enemy. The Patrol which was under machine gun fire from two other enemy posts, had two wounded and one killed. This Officer, however, managed to carry both wounded into the post and then bombed the enemy. Later, while still in the post, a German officer and 4 men approached the position where he lay. He shot the officer and two men. At nightfall he rejoined his own lines, bringing his wounded in with him. He was 14 hours in this post under continuous machine gun fire. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Son of John Frederick and Isabel SIMPSON
Mr J. F. Simpson, of 5 Frank street, has been notified that his son, Lt J. L. ("Dick") Simpson, was killed in action in France on 26th April. He was one of the first to enlist from Ballarat, and took part in the landing at Gallipoli, where he fought continuously until the evacuation. He then obtained his commission and went to France, where he was severely wounded at Fleurbaix on 19th July, 1916. He was invalided home to Australia, but although suffering from a badly shattered arm he returned to France. Before enlisting he was on the office staff of Ronaldson Bros. and Tippett for eight years. He was a prominent member of the Ballarat Rowing Club, and captain of the North City Football Club. He also captained the 15th Brigade foot-
ball team in France. He was popular with all classes both in and out of the fighting line.
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