In Ovillers Military Cemetery, Département de la Somme, Picardie, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 16/47 Serjeant Alfred Huntley Simpson, serving with ‘A’ Company, 16th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers who died 01/07/1916.

In Gateshead (Saltwell) Cemetery is a family headstone for Simpson which reads:

In
loving memory of
John Henry Simpson
dearly loved husband of
Hannah Isabella Simpson,
who died May 5th 1912
aged 56 years

The above
Hannah Isabella Simpson
who died May 22nd 1924
aged 63 years

Also of William Henry, eldest
son of the above and beloved husband
of Annie Simpson
who died Feb.10th 1913
aged 31 years.

and of Alfred Huntley third son
of the above and beloved husband of
Jennie Simpson
killed in action in France,
July 1st 1916 Aged 28 years

Robert Hall fourth son of the
above died Jan. 26th 1917
aged 26 years

Alfred Huntley Simson was educated at Gateshead Secondary SChool. He was married to a Jane Isabella, Simpson, born 28th June 1888.

Alfred was employed by the North Eastern Railway atb the Engineers Office at York. He resided at 17 Denmark Street, Gateshead.

Alfred was sent to France on the 22nd November 1915 with the 16th Battalion (Service) Northumberland Fusiliers. He was killed in action on the 1st July 1916 on the first day at the Somme.

Acknowledgments: Geordie at War Project

Sources: The British Newspaper Archive; The Western Front Association; York Railway Museum;

Alfred Huntley Simpson is remembered at Gateshead on G39.003, in G39.004, G39.069, G39.078 and G39.129 and in the Battalion History, page 96.