Medal Index Card

Father R. A. Simpson [Bottom Left]

Thomas Liddle Simpson was the second son born 25th May 1889 at 62, Broughton Road, South Shields, to Robert Anthony Simpson, a Letterpress Printer, [About 1861, South Shields, died 10th June 1923, South Shields], and his wife Mary Anne Liddell, [born 1864, South Shields, died 22nd February 1947, South Shields]. They had 5 children, Robert 14, Thomas Liddle 11, Mabel 9, Harold 5, Leonard 5/12 months in 1901.

By 1901, they had moved to 4, Ravensbourne Terrace, South Shields.

He married 7th April 1917, at St Aidan's Church, South Shields, Lily Oswald Crossman [born 10th April 1889, South Shields, died 21st January 1961, South Shields], daughter of Mary Ann Crossman, residing at 2 1/2 Trajan Street when she was married.

Thomas was an Accountant, according to the pass list published in 'The Accountant', T.L. Simpson passed his final examination in 1911. He was articled to A.F. Davidson in South Shields. [South Shields Council mentioned that he was in South Shields].

He first appears in the List of Members in 1913, having been admitted as an ACA on April 30th that year. Membership of ICAEW has always required a period of practical experience – this may explain the two-year interval.

His entries in the List of Members are as follows: 1913, Avenida Isabel la Catholica, Apartado 5352, Mexico City - Clerk to McAuliffe, Davis & Hope, [he shared the office in Mexico with Leonard Adams, also a clerk at McAuliffe & Co. Mr Adams subsequently founded his own firm and retired in the 1970s, still in Mexico City]. 1914, Threadneedle House, 34 Bishopsgate, London EC - Clerk to McAuliffe, Davis & Hope, 1915, Threadneedle House, 34 Bishopsgate, London EC - Not in Practice. 1916, Threadneedle House, 34 Bishopsgate, London EC - Not in Practice. 1917-18, No handbook. 1919, Not listed.

He originally enlisted into the 27th Battalion, [4th Tyneside Irish], Battalion, as a private, service number 41044. Then was transferred into the 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, Acting Corporal, service number 30739. He then was Discharged under paragraph [XIXA], for a Commission.

Thomas was sent for training as an Officer Cadet. Thomas was gazetted a temporary 2nd Lieutenant on the 31st March 1915. [Gazette dated 15th May 1915, 4755].

When he reached the front, he was transferred to the 64th Trench Mortar Battery Battery, this was the 64th Brigade's Mortar Team Battery, so he could be supporting any of the three Battalions that made up he 64th Brigade at that time, part of the 21st Division.

Trench Mortars Battery's were numbered after the Brigade they were attached to.

On the 30th May 1917, he was then transferred to the Durham Light Infantry Service Battalions.

Thomas was wounded near the Croisilles-Bullencourt railway on the 15th August, 1917. There is a brief mention of him in the 15th Battalion War Diary:- 2nd Lt T.L. Simpson wounded.

The Battalion moved into Brigade Support at the time were fielding work parties along the Croisilles - Bullecourt railway with 'A' and 'B' Coys in the cutting and 'C' and 'D' in the Embankment and Batt HQ. at U 25 a 66 [Trench Map Reference].

There is also a mention of him in the War Diary on 'April 21st 1918' It reads: : "Holding the line. 2/Lt CW Licence, wounded. 2/Lt TL Simpson joined the Battn".

Thomas was awarded the Military Cross [Gazette dated 11th January, 1919. Nu 643]. It reads as follows;- "T./2nd Lt. Thomas Liddle Simpson, 15th Bn., L.I., 64th T.M. By. For conspicuous gallantry when the enemy counter-attacked and obtained a footing in the front line. This officer, having fired all his Stokes mortar ammunition, placed himself at the head of twenty men and led them over the open to a fire position and opened fire. His courage and initiative contributed in a great measure to the enemy being driven back with loss".

It was announced in the London Gazette supplement January 11th, 1919.

Thomas died at the 3rd Clearing Station, Caudry, Nord, France, on the 30th November 1918, from the Spanish Flu, -Lobar pneumonia due to military exposure.

The Times on Thursday, 05/12/1918.

DEATHS
SIMPSON. - "On the 30th Nov., 1918, at No. 3 Clearing Station, B.E.F., France, of pneumonia, 2ND. LIEUT. THOMAS LIDDELL SIMPSON, M.C., 14th D.L.I., beloved husband of Lily Oswald Simpson (nee Crossman) and second son of Robert Anthony and Mary A. Simpson, of 4, Revensbourne-terrace, South Shields, aged 20 years".

"The Accountant" (11th January 1919) records an ICAEW Council meeting of 08/01/19 in which the Secretary reported that T.L. Simpson ACA of South Shields has died on service - there is no further information in the entry.

In his will dated 12th May 1919, at Durham he left his widow Lily Oswald Simpson £308 13s.

Thanks to the ICAEW

Thomas Liddle Simpson is remembered at South Shields on S86.046

The DLI in WW1
Detailed History of the Family Simpson
Accountants in Wartime
The CWGC entry for 2nd Lieutenant Simpson