In Bedford House Cemetery, Belgium is the Commonwealth War Grave of 301149 Corporal Joseph Simpson, serving with the 1st/8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 22/09/1917.
He was the son of Joseph and Mary Simpson, of 5, Pattinson Street, Felling on Tyne, County Durham
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Joseph Simpson Jnr was born at Felling, Gateshead, historically in County Durham in 1890, one of 7 known children he was the 3rd born of 5 sons and 2 daughters. His parents Joseph Simpson Snr and Mary Jane White, known as Mary, were natives of Felling born 1854 and 1860 respectively, they married at Gateshead in 1879. Employed as an engine fireman he and his wife and daughter Sarah (1) were living in 1881 at Wellington Street, Felling, by 1891 they had moved to Heworth Street. At the age of 19 their eldest son William was a turner, Charles (14) was employed at the colliery as a screener Joseph (10), Edith (8) were scholars and they now lived at 5, Pattinson Street. Joseph Jnr did not seek employment in any of these sectors, he worked as an insurance agent.
After the declaration of war with Germany on August 4th 1914 and Kitchener’s call to arms men from all walks of life volunteered to serve their Country. After the initial rush of men dwindled the Military Service Act was passed in January 1916 and impossed conscription but with exemptions, on single men 18-41 years of age. Joseph Simpson enlisted aged 25 years and 9 months on March 9th 1916 at Newcastle upon Tyne, for the duration of the war, assigned as Private 4392 to the Territorial Battalion Durham Light Infantry. He departed with the Regiment via Folkestone disembarking at Boulogne on June 16th 1917 and on to the 35th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, where he was transferred to the 18th Battalion, joining them in the field, July 1st 1917, with a new service number, 301149. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on July 7th 1917 and transferred to the 1/8th Battalion, 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division. The Division was involved in day to day trench warfare until it participated during the Battle of Arras, April 9th-May 16th 1917 and took part in a major trench raid at Chensy in the September.
Lance Corporal 301149 Joseph Simpson Durham Light Infantry was wounded, a gun shot to the head, September 22nd 1917 and taken by the 69th Field Ambulance back through the lines to the area of Chateau Rosendal, known as Bedford House by the troops, and used by the Field Ambulance. He died of wounds sustained that same day and interred at Bedford House Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres, Belgium grave 21. E.13. He was 27 years old and single.
His father Joseph received all monies due to him from the Army, his late son’s personal items consisting of; belt, wallet, photos, cig. case, whistle, disc, stylo pen, knife, note book, teeth, watch (bkn), strap, cig. lighter, ink pellet, tube, May 17th 1918 and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal on February 18th 1921, sent to him at 5, Pattinson Street, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham. He commissioned at a cost of 11 shillings 4 pence an additional inscription to be added to his late son’s military headstone, it reads, Father, Not My Will But Thine Be Done-Luke XXII.
Lance Corporal Simpson’s service record states 69th Field Ambulance whereas the Register of Soldiers Effects lists Field Ambulance as 66th. The latter is a transcription error as the 66th F.A. was attached to the 22nd Division which served as of September 1915 in the Balkans for the duration of WW1.
Mary Jane Simpson nee White died aged 63 years in 1923, Joseph Simpson Snr died aged 71 years in 1925, both registered at Gateshead, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 24/11/1917 carries a notice which reads:
Corporal J. Simpson, D.L.I., died of wounds received in action on Sept. 22nd, aged 27 years. Son of Joseph and Mary Simpson, 5 Pattinson Street, Felling.
Joseph Simpson is remembered at Felling on F32.01 and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 258.
