George Edward Simpson was born on 23rd December 1892, the only child of George Augustus Simpson and his wife Mary Emson (née Curry). Both parents were born in Liverpool and married and married on the 30th January 1892 at St Saviour's Church, Grove Street, Liverpool. George snr was a 25 year old book keeper of 7 Rathbone Street, his father, George, was deceased, whilst Mary was aged 26 of 10 Duncan Street, her father, Edward, was a hairdresser. George was baptised on 8th February 1893 in St. Philemon, Toxteth Park, parents’ residence 30 Grimshill Street, and father’s occupation clerk.
His father died when George was seven months old, on 11th August 1893, aged 26, leaving £143-17s to widow his Mary.
In 1901 George and his mother are living at 10 Duncan Street, Liverpool, with her widowed father Edward Curry. His grandfather is 77, a hairdresser/employer. His mother, 34, has a smallware shop. George is 8.
The next year, on the 09th November 1902, his mother remarried at St. Stephen The Martyr Church, Edge Hill, to 35 year old James Alexander Millar, engineer, also widowed, giving their address as 109 Bamber Street. There is no record of any children born to the marriage. James died in January 1907 at the age of 39.
The 1911 census finds them still living at 10 Duncan Street, Gt. George Street. His mother is 45, a smallware draper, on her own account and George is 18, a wholesale draper’s assistant. They have seven rooms and a domestic servant.
George was initiated into Masonic Lodge No.1547 Liverpool, on 1st April 1914, aged 21, profession clerk.
The details of George’s service are not known will be at Kew and not digitised, but we do know that he enlisted as Private 15478 17th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. During training in the UK he was sent to O.T.C. (medal card states no rank service overseas). He was Gazetted (Temp) Second Lieutenant, in the 23rd Battalion (8th City) Manchester Regiment on 21st January 1915. The battalion crossed to France from Folkestone, arriving at Boulogne on 31st January 1916.
The battalion saw action at Neuve Chapelle in April, fought in the Battle of the Somme, including Bazincourt, Moulancourt, Happy Valley, Trones Wood and Guillemont, and at Arras in October 1916. In 1917 they were in the trenches at Chaulves and Rosieres, Somerville Copse. At some point he was promoted to Captain. In October 1917 the battalion moved to Peronne, then to Boesinghe in the Ypres Salient and took over the line east of Langemarck.
The War Diary for 22nd October 1917 records:
At 5:35 a.m. the battalion attacked ... The first objective was reached with slight casualties. From this point however the resistance was more stubborn and very heavy rifle and machine gun fire was experienced from both flanks. All the officers, with one exception who was acting as liaison officer.... and a large proportion of N.C.O.s and men were either killed or wounded and the battalion was unable to make further progress. The survivors who could be collected, that is about 60 other ranks under a Company Sergeant Major, withdrew to our original line. Casualties:
Officers: 1 Missing, 8 Killed, 5 Wounded
O.R.: 55 Missing, 20 Killed, 115 Wounded
George was one of the officers killed during this attack. His body was never recovered from the battlefield, or was subsequently lost. He was 24 years of age, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Flanders, Belgium.
Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.
The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.
The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.
His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 31st October 1917 :
“October 22, aged 24 years, Captain George E. Simpson, (S.N. Manchester Reg ) dearly loved and only son of Mrs. Mary E. and the late George A. Simpson, of 10 Duncan Street. (Fell whilst nobly doing his duty. Loved and respected by all who knew him.) Liverpool Masonic Lodge No.1547.”
It was also reported in the Manchester Evening News on Friday 02nd November 1917;
SIMPSON —October 22. aged 24 years, Captain GEORGE E. SIMPSON S.B., Manchester Regiment, dearly-loved and only son of Mary E. and the late George A. Simpson, 10, Duncan-street, Liverpool. Fell whilst nobly doing his duty.
Loved and respected by all who knew him.
Liverpool Masonic Lodge (No. 1547).
Also in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 07th November, 1917:
“October 22, aged 24 years, Captain George E. Simpson, Manchester Regiment, dearly loved and devoted friend of Eileen Sanders.”
His loved ones placed In Memoriam notices in the Liverpool Echo on 22nd October 1918:
“In loving memory of Captain George E. Simpson, killed in action October 22, 1917. (One of the best). Ever remembered by cousins Maggie and Jim.”
“In loving memory of Captain George E. Simpson (S.B. Manchester Regiment) killed in action October 22, ***(“Thy will be done.”) Fondly remembered by all at 8 Winkle Street. Also [..?..] Mesopotamia.”
“ In loving memory of my dear and only son, Captain George E. Simpson, 23rd S.B. Manchester Regt., who fell in action October 22, 1917. Ever remembered by his Mother, 8 Avondale Road.”
“In loving remembrance of Captain G. E. Simpson 23rd Manchester Regt., reported killed in action October 22, 1917. (Always remembered by Mary, 72 Thorneycroft Road, Smithdown Road.)”
“In loving memory of Captain G. E. Simpson (George) who fell October 22, 1917. Aunt, Uncle, and Arthur, 53 Spekeland Street.”
“To the honoured memory of our dear friend Captain G.E. Simpson, Manchester Regt., who was killed in action October 22, 1917. - Ever remembered by Mr. and Mrs. Webster and Family, 11 Upper Parliament Street.”
His family paid tribute to George in the
Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 25 October 1919;
SIMPSON—In treasured and ever loving memory of my dear and only son, Captain George E. Simpson, 23rd Manchester Regt. (late Pals), who fell in action Oct. 22nd, 1917. (My all. Never for one moment forgotten by his sorrowing mother.)
SIMPSON—In sad but loving memory of Captain George E. Simpson, Manchester Regt., killed in action, October 22, 1917. (One of the best, Ever remembered by all at 8, Winkle-street,)
SIMPSON -In loving memory of Captain George E. Simpson, Manchester Regt., killed in action, Oct, 22, 1917, (Never forgotten by Cousin Maggie and Jim, at 18, Winkle-street.)
SIMPSON—IIn loving memory of Captain George E. Simpson, Manchester Regt., killed in action, Oct, 22, 1917, (Always remembered by Cousins Tom and Jim, 8 Winkle-street.)
George’s effects of £172 and a War Pension presumably went to his mother, Mrs. M. E. Millar.
He earned his two medals.
George’s effects of £171 11s went to his mother, Mrs. Mary Emson Millar. The only pension record has just the name of his mother.
On the 1921 Census at 43 Russell Road, Sefton Park, his widowed mother, Mary, is aged 55 and living with Charles and Edith Godber, she is Edith’s Aunt.
His mother died aged 58 in 1924, having lost two husbands and her only child. She is buried with George’s father in St. James’ Cemetery, Liverpool.
George is commemorated on the following memorials:
Liverpool Hall of Remembrance, Panel 40
Masonic Hall, Hope Street, Liverpool
David Lewis Club Members Roll of Honour, Liverpool.
We currently have no further information on George Edward Simpson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
