Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Australian Remembrance Army

Australian veteran Corporal William Francis Simpson who served in both World Wars, is among almost 800 previously unmarked WWI veterans’ graves in Lutwyche Cemetery we have now marked with plaques in recognition of their service for Australia.

We unveiled his plaque in Lutwyche Cemetery on 23 September 2023, along with a further 300 plaques on the previously unmarked graves of Australian World War One veterans:
See Australian Remembrance Army Facebook page

WWI:
1705, Private, 26th Battalion

WWII:
Q186771, Corporal, 32nd Garrison Battalion

William Francis Simpson was born on 31 December 1894 in Warwick, Queensland, to William Simpson and Elizabeth Simpson, née Hughes. William Snr died in 1896, and two years later Elizabeth married Waldo Hudson.

Simpson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Toowoomba, Queensland, on 17 May 1915. He was 20 years old, single, and working as a painter. He nominated his mother, Mrs Elizabeth Hudson, of Union Street, Toowoomba, as his next of kin. On 17 August 1915, he embarked from Brisbane aboard HMAT Shropshire.

Simpson served at Gallipoli, where his record notes that he joined the battalion in October 1915. After the evacuation, he disembarked at Alexandria from Mudros on 9 January 1916. On 15 March 1916, he proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force, embarking from Alexandria and disembarking at Marseilles, France, on 21 March 1916.

His service in France was affected by illness. In November 1916, he was admitted to hospital with influenza. He passed through medical facilities at Rouen, including No. 3 Stationary Hospital, and was later transferred by ambulance train. On 24 November 1916, he embarked from Calais for England.

In England, Simpson was admitted to hospital at Shorncliffe and later transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield. His records refer to D.A.H. — disordered action of the heart — severe. He was discharged from Harefield on 10 February 1917 for furlough and ordered to report to Weymouth.

Simpson was again treated at Harefield in July 1917, and in January 1918 he was admitted with an abscess cavity of the jaw. His later record refers to inflammation of the right antrum.

On 6 June 1918, Simpson was returned to Australia aboard HT Barambah for medical reasons. He was discharged in Australia on 20 August 1918.

William married Daisy Louisa Blinco on 4 July 1925. The couple settled in Toowoomba, Queensland. By 1934, they were recorded as living at Southport with their growing family.

During the Second World War, Simpson again enlisted for service. He joined the Australian Military Forces at Southport, Queensland, on 30 September 1939, aged 44 years and 9 months. He gave his occupation as painter and his religion as Church of England, and nominated his wife, Daisy Louisa Simpson, of “Outwood,” High Street, Southport, as next of kin.
He was initially posted to No. 1 Garrison Battalion and was promoted to Corporal on 19 October 1939. Simpson later served with the 32nd Garrison Battalion. In 1943, he was treated for gastro-enteritis at U.S. 153 Station Hospital and later transferred to 112 Australian General Hospital. He was discharged as medically unfit on 30 July 1943.

Corporal William Francis Simpson died on 8 May 1950, aged 55, and was buried two days later in Anzac Portion 8, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane.

After decades without recognition at his place of burial, his grave now bears a plaque commemorating his service to Australia — ensuring his name endures among those remembered for their duty and sacrifice. His identity and dignity have now been restored.

We have remembered him.
Lest We Forget