Archibald SIMPSON

Archibald SIMPSON Update Details

If you confirm that you want to proceed with the update, this record will be locked for editing by all other users until you have finished. You will have 7 days to complete your changes before they will be automatically submitted.

Do you want to proceed?

SIMPSON, Archibald

Service Number:	3121
Enlisted:	2 August 1915
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	51st Infantry Battalion (WW1)
Born:	Dunrossness, Shetland, Scotland, 26 August 1895
Home Town:	Perth, Western Australia
Schooling:	Renfrew, Scotland
Occupation:	Carpenter
Died:	Killed in action, Mouquet Farm, France, 3 September 1916, aged 21 years
Cemetery:	Aveluy Wood Cemetery, (Lancashire Dump), Mesnil-Martinsart Plot I, Row L, Grave No. 14.
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Fremantle 849 Memorial

2 Aug 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3121, 11th Infantry Battalion
13 Sep 1915:	Involvement Private, 3121, 11th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: ''
13 Sep 1915:	Embarked Private, 3121, 11th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Fremantle
3 Sep 1916:	Involvement Private, 3121, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3121 awm_unit: 51 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-09-03

Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Brothers, 3118 Private Malcolm Simpson and his brother 3121 Pte Archibald Simpson emigrated with their family from the Shetland Islands, Scotland to Fremantle, Western Australia in 1912. The both enlisted in the 11th Battalion about three weeks apart. Malcolm was promoted to Corporal during early 1916. He was killed in action on 22 July 1916 at Pozieres and has no known grave. Archibald was transferred to the 51st Battalion as part of the 'doubling-up' of the AIF. He was killed in action on 3 September 1916 at nearby Mouquet Farm during the 51st Battalion assault on the formidable position. Archibald was reported missing after the battle, as were several hundred men of the unit.

At a Court of Enquiry in May 1917 he was declared “killed in action 3 September 1916.” He was only a few days past his 21st birthday.

Harry’s remains were found in May 1923, and identified along with 13 other soldiers of the 51st Battalion and six unknown Australian soldiers. They were all reinterred in Aveluy Wood Cemetery.

His identity disc was returned to his parents, Alexander and Jane Simpson, Fremantle, Western Australia, during November 1923, just over seven years after his death.

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia