Pte Arthur Simpson (MM)

• Age: 26
• From: Bootle
• Regiment: 13th Kings
• Died on Saturday 31st August 1918
• Commemorated at: Hac Cem Ecourt-saint Mein
  Panel Ref: I.C.10

Arthur Simpson was born on Christmas Eve in 1892, the son of David Simpson and Elizabeth Adelaide (nee McNeight), and known as Lizzie) who were married, probably in Dublin, in about 1889.  Arthur was baptised in St. Leonard’s Church, Bootle, on the 15^th February 1893, his parents living at 1 Peel Road, and his father’s occupation given as plumber.

His father was born in Bootle and his mother in Dublin. They had seven children, one of whom died young. Their first child, Edward, was born in Dublin, and by 1901 the couple had moved to England, and were living at 1 Peel Road, Bootle, with son Edward, 3, who sadly died a couple of months later.  

After the births of Andrew, born 1891, and Arthur, the family moved to Waterloo, where four more children were born:  Janet (1895), Herbert Stanley (1897), James (1900), and Robert in 1910.

In 1901 the family is living at 20 St. John’s Road, Waterloo, with five children.  His father is a self-employed plumber, and Arthur is 8.

By 1911 they have moved to 53 Argo Road, Waterloo. His father is a plumber, Andrew, 20, and Arthur, 18, are painters, Janet is a dressmaker, Stanley and James are at school, and Robert is 10 months old.

Arthur enlisted on the 06th November 1914 at Liverpool as Private 22533 in the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 21 years and 11 months, and his occupation as painter.  He is described as being 5’ 8 and a half inches tall, weighing 132 lbs, with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes, and brown hair.  His medical record shows he had ‘hammer toe both feet’. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 
He embarked for France with his battalion on 7^th November 1915, disembarking at Boulogne. 

In the new year the Pals battalions take up position in the south of the Somme line near Carnoy.  Arthur was admitted to 98^th Field Ambulance on 21st February 1916 with myalgia, and was discharged to duty on the 24^th.

By May 1916, the 20^th Battalion is in the front line at Maricourt. Arthur was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on the 05th May 1916.

Three days later, on 08th May 1916 he was wounded in action, suffering a chest wound and was admitted to 4^th General Hospital the next day with a gunshot wound to the upper left lung and evacuated to England on 04th June 1916 on the Belgian hospital ship ‘Stad Antwerpen’, a converted Channel ferry.

Arthur was admitted to 2nd Southern General Hospital, Southmead, in Bristol.  After 44 days in hospital, he was discharged on 17th July 1916.  Whilst in the UK recuperating, he was transferred to the 3rd Garrison Battalion K.L.R.

Arthur returned to France, embarking at Folkestone and disembarking at Boulogne on 26th September 1917 and was posted to the 19^th Battalion K.L.R. from 24^th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples. On 29th September 1917 he was transferred to the 13^th Battalion K.L.R.

On 27/5/1918 Arthur was sent to 7^th Field Ambulance with fever of unknown origin, and to a Casualty Receiving Station the next day, and rejoined his unit on 10/6/1918.

One week later, on 17/6/1918, Arthur was again sent, with fever of unknown origin, to 7^th Field Ambulance, rejoining his unit on the 20^th. 

Arthur was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field, the award being published in the London Gazette on 16/7/18.

Six weeks later, on 31^st August 1918, Arthur was killed in action.  He was 26 years old and engaged to be married. Details of the action in which Arthur lost his life are recorded in the Battalion diary.

August 30 – At night time the battalion moved up in preparation for an attack on Ecoust.

August 31 – the Battalion attacked and were successful in obtaining their objective as also did the 1^st Gordon Highlanders on their Left.  The Battalion on the Right flank, however, did not get their objective and this necessitated a withdrawal temporarily and subsequently the Battalion re-took the objective though suffering heavy casualties. 

Estimated Casualties:  9 Officers, 200 Other Ranks.  

Arthur is buried at HAC cemetery in France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"GONE FROM OUR HOME BUT LEAVING MEMORIES DEATH CAN NEVER TAKE AWAY"

The enemy positions from Doignies to Henin-sur-Cojeul, including the village of Ecoust, were captured on 2 April 1917, by the 4th Australian and 7th Divisions. This cemetery was begun by the 7th Division after the battle, when 27 of the 2nd H.A.C., who fell (with one exception) on the 31st March or the 1st April, were buried in what is now Plot I, Row A. After the German counter-attack near Lagnicourt on the 15th April, twelve Australian gunners were buried in the same row. Rows B, C and part of D were made in August and September 1918, when the ground had been recaptured by the 3rd Division after five months enemy occupation. The 120 graves thus made were the original H.A.C. Cemetery; but after the Armistice graves were added from the battlefields of Bullecourt and Ecoust and from a number of smaller burial grounds.

There are now nearly 2,000, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over half are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 17 soldiers from the United Kingdom and 14 from Australia, known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of 34 soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire. The cemetery covers an area of 5,801 square metres and is enclosed by a low red brick wall.

His family placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 20^th Sept 1918: 

“Killed in action, August 31, Arthur Simpson, M.M., the beloved second son of David and Elizabeth Simpson, 53, Argo Road, Waterloo. – Sadly missed by his sorrowing Father, Mother, Sister, and Brothers (Stanley in France); also Alice, his fiancée.

“Gone from home, how I miss you,

Never shall his memory fade;

While life lasts shall I forget him,

Dear is the place where he is laid.”

Arthur earned his three medals.  

His personal effects were sent to his parents in February 1919:  Photographs, postcards, 1 greeting(?) card, 1 identity disc and chain.  His father responded:  “I know they were on him. There was a pocket book and cigarette case not accounted for. Please look into the matter.” It is not recorded whether his father recieved the items he had requested.

His older brother Andrew enlisted in February 1916 in the 9^th K.L.R., served in France with various battalions, including the 17^th (Pals).  He survived the war.  His younger brother (Herbert) Stanley also served in France, regiment unknown.

Arthur is commemorated on the Waterloo with Seaforth Civic Memorial.

Soldiers Effects to his father David and pension to his mother Elizabeth Adelaide.

We currently have no further information on Arthur Simpson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.