David Caldow Simpson

1892 - 1969  (76 years)

• Photos » Slide Show		David Caldow Simpson Taken at the wedding of his daughter Betty on 5 May 1945. Note Observer's brevet on uniform which matches the records.
  		David Caldow Simpson Taken at Valley Farm, Wissett, Suffolk, which he helped his son Alan to buy. Date c. 1955.
  		WW1 Medals Card for David Caldow Simpson. 'by A/M auth' = by Air Ministry authority, as he was in the RFC at that time.
  		List of King's Royal Rifles men showing DCS's regimental number, rank and services.
  		Simpson family at Valley Farm, Wissett. L-R: Dorothy Helen Simpson nee Muller, Marjorie Simpson nee Lincoln, Alan Ian Simpson, David Caldow Simpson Sr.
  		Record of David Caldow Simpson's service with the RAF, 1918. 23 July 18: To No.1 School of Military Aeronautics ('1SofA') 3 Aug 1918: To Eastchurch Station (later RAF Eastchurch) (unknown date): No.1 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping ('1sofN&BD') (Stonehenge) 30 Sep 1918: To BGF - day bombing observer 3 October 1918: Central Hospital (presume Hampstead) 25 Apr 1919: Dispersed [Thanks to Taff at www.khakidevil.co.uk for deciphering]
  		From National Archives, Kew. Record WO/338/17/10
  		61 Dames Road, Forest Gate, birthplace of David Caldow Simpson b.1892. 61 is the middle terrace.
  		Notes: No.1 Australian Casualty Clearing Station opened at Estaires in the 2nd Army in May 1916, with a Nursing Staff of 7, drawn from the staff of No.1 Australian General Hospital. In May 1917, the C.C.S. moved to Bailleul, where it had a busy time during the battle for Messines ridge, and in July it moved again to Outtersteene, a site near Hazebrouck. Here the work was very heavy during the mustard gas attacks in the Armentieres sector. In October 1917, Colonel Dick the O.C. was transferred to No.1 Australian General Hospital, and Lt.Col. Marks D.S.C. relieved him. On the afternoon of Sept.26th, the vicinity of the C.C.S. was shelled, and one fell at the back of the Officers’ ward, but fortunately did not explode. The patients were evacuated and the Sisters sent to No.2 C.C.S. for the afternoon, but returned later. After this, a concrete dug-out was built in the Sisters’ compound. [THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES WO222/2134] Hence it seems David Simpson was taken to hospital in Outtersteene near Hazebrouck.
  		North British Transport advertisement for storage and warehousing From the Hull Daily Mail, Weds 31 January 1934

  
  

• Name	David Caldow Simpson
  Born	31 Dec 1892	61 Dames Road, Forest Gate
  	Father William Simpson, mother Minnie Simpson formerly Rodwell, address 61 Dames Road Wanstead.
  Gender	Male
  1911 Census	2 Apr 1911	13 Horace Road, Forest Gate, London
  	Minnia Simpson, Head, 43, Widow, born in Guildford, Surrey. Harold Simpson, Son, 23, Single, Builder's Assistant, born in Forest Gate. Ivy Simpson, Daughter, 21, Single, born in Forest Gate. William Simpson, Son, 18, Clerk to LCC (Tramways), born in Forest Gate. David Simpson, Son, 16, Single, Printer's Assistant, born in Forest Gate
  .	28 Mar 1917
  	From the London Gazette, 17 May 1917: 'K. R. Rif. C. The undermentioned cadets to be temp. 2nd Lts. (attd.):- David Caldow Simpson. 18 Mar. 1917.'
  .	20 Sep 1917	Ypres - Menin Road Ridge
  	The 18th and 21st Bts of the KRRC were both lead battalions in this battle, the 18th on the left and the 21st on the right: 'Battles Of Ypres - Battle Of The Menin Road Ridge - 20/09/1917 Location: Tower Hamlets. Allied victory. The third major Allied attack of the Third Battle of Ypres, the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge saw nine divisions attack on a 10,000 yards (9.1km) front, from the Ypres-Comines Canal, north of Hollebeke, to the Ypres-Staden Railway north of Langemarck. The battle was the first to use the new Allied 'targeted' tactics for artillery and air support and the 'leap frog' method of infantry advance. On the right of the attack, 41st Division in X Corps, Second Army were south of the Menin Road, advancing from positions between Bodmin Copse and Lower Star Post in Shrewsbury Forest (Groenenburgbos), across the Basseville Beek south of Dumbarton Lakes, towards the Tower Hamlets spur and Gheluvelt (Geluveld). 122nd Infantry Brigade on the left, 15th Hampshire Regiment and 18th King's Royal Rifle Corps the lead battalions, 11th Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) and 12th East Surrey Regiment in support, 124th Infantry Brigade on the right, 10th Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) and 21st King's Royal Rifle Corps the lead battalions, 26th Royal Fusiliers and 32nd Royal Fusiliers in support. The area was defended by a number of German strong points, which caused heavy casualties amongst all the attacking battalions as they attempted to overcome them. 10th Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) having particular problems at Het Pappotje Farm which caused them to loose touch with the battalions either side. 11th Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) did make it up onto Tower Hamlets spur to capture part of Tower Trench, but not in sufficient numbers to hold it. With the other battalions being held up they were eventually forced to fall back, a line being established to the west of Tower Hamlets. 123rd Infantry Brigade moving forwards during the afternoon, 23rd Middlesex Regiment reinforced 124th Infantry Brigade but were unable to gain any further ground. During the morning of 21st September, 20th Durham Light Infantry, supported by 10th Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) renewed the attack on Tower Hamlets, making a further gain of around 200 yards before being halted by machine-gun fire. The position being heavily shelled throughout the day, several German counter-attacks were beaten back during the afternoon. The Division being relieved during the evening of 22nd September, all the battalions had suffered heavy casualties. 2nd Lieutenant Montague Moore, 15th Hampshire Regiment was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 20th September.' [ https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/7043965/2nd-lieutenant-d-c-simpson-kings-royal-rifle-corps/# ] The 18th Bt and 21st Bt were both in the 41st Division, the 18th Bt in the 122nd Brigade and the 21st Bt in the 124th Brigade. Whichever battalion DCS was in at the time, they are both covered by this report: 'The 41st Division had to advance across the Bassevillebeek valley, against the right of the German 9th Division and the left of the Bavarian Ersatz Division, to capture Tower Hamlets spur. The advance was hampered by overnight rain, which affected the valley more than the plateau to the north. Fire from camouflaged German machine-gun nests in the valley caused confusion and delay to the infantry, who lost the barrage. The Bassevillebeek stream in the valley was eventually crossed, with the 122nd Brigade struggling forward and the 124th Brigade being held up near the British front line, by numerous machine-guns in the Quadrilateral, three ruined cottages that had been fortified behind a digging 400 yd × 100 yd (366 m × 91 m) at the south end of the spur. The Quadrilateral commanded the western approach to the spur and the rise northwards to the pill-boxes at Tower Hamlets. The left hand brigade of the division reached the third objective and threw back its right flank to the brigade on the right, which had advanced just beyond the second objective and then joined the left flank of 39th Division. Despite the failure to capture Tower Hamlets, parts of the two leading battalions of 124th Brigade running away before being rallied and two dead and three wounded battalion commanders, the division defeated all German counter-attacks during the day.' [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Menin_Road_Ridge ]
  Marriage	19 Mar 1918  [1]
  	Married Dorothy Helen Muller
  1921 Census	19 Jun 1921	11 Osborne Road, Forest Gate E
  	George Wm. Muller, Head, 74yrs 1 mo, M, Married, Sunderland Durham, Retired Cargo Superintendent, Recruiting, G. Thompson & Co. Elizabeth Ann Muller, Wife, 57yrs 11mo, F, Married, London Southwark, Home Duties Rodolphe Muller, Son, 24yrs 4mo, M, Single, West Ham Essex, Ships Clerk, Geo Thompson Co. Shipowner, London Docks David Calder (sic) Simpson, Son in Law, 28yrs 6mo, M, Married, London West Ham, Laundry Man, Employer, 55 Vicarage Lane Stratford E. Dorothy Helen Simpson, Daughter, 22yrs 4mo, London West Ham, Home Duties David Calder (sic) Simpson, Grandson, 1yr 11mo, M, West Ham Hausjacob Mattson, Boarder, 31yrs 1mo, M, Single, Sweden Gevle, Visitor, Student Languages *George Thompson & Co was a shipping line: https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/G._Thompson_and_Co
  1939 Register	29 Sep 1939	Abbey Cottage, 7 Landermere Road, Thorpe-le-Soken
  	Simpson, David C., M, 31 Dec 92, M, Road Haulage Contractor, Chairman & Managing Director Simpson Dorothy H., F, 22 Feb 99, M, Unpaid Domestic Duties One record 'officially closed' due to 100 year rule, probably Alan Ian Simpson.
  Career	After school joined Capital & Counties Bank. Post-war (c.1925) founded freight brokers Holme & Simpson, later North British Transport Ltd, using Army surplus lorries. A notable contract was for William Randolph Hearst, relocating Hornby Castle and Bradenstock Hall to be added to St Donat's Castle. This funded the company's expansion to Finsbury Park, Manchester, Hull & Bristol. The company closed in 1975. Lived at 11 Osborne Road, Forest Gate, then moved to 45 Osborne Road around 1931/32. (11 Osborne Road was previously occupied by Dorothy's parents the Mullers, so it seems to have been sold or passed to the Simpsons) WW2: Army Welfare Officer (Captain), organising troop entertainment. 1941: Assistant Scoutmaster with 2nd Thorpe-le-Soken Scouts Founder Member of Road Haulage Association. Liveryman in Worshipful Company of Carmen, who advise: 'he joined the Company on 3rd June 1946* by Redemption**. His address was 146 Bishopsgate, London EC2 and he was listed as a Road Transport Contract Captain.' Freeman of the City of London***. * 1946 was when the Worshipful Company of Carmen received its Royal Charter. ** 'By Redemption' means purchase, or donation to the Freemen's School. *** Probably connected with the Worshipful Company of Carmen  [2]
  WW1 Enlistment	Regimental number 52012. His Medals Card confirms that he was in the 18th Battalion, the details of which are: '18th (Service) Battalion (Arts and Crafts) 04.06.1915 Formed by Major Sir Herbert Raphael at Gidea park, Essex. 04.09.1915 Taken over by the War Office and moved to Witley to join the 122nd Brigade of the 41st Division. 03.05.1916 Mobilised for war and landed at Havre and engaged in various actions on the Western Front including; During 1916 The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, The Battle of the Transloy Ridges. During 1917 The Battle of Messines, The Battle of Pilkem Ridge, The Battle of the Menin Road, Operations on the Flanders coast. The 21st (Service) Battalion (Yeoman Rifles) landed in France as part of the 124th Brigade in the 41st Division in May 1916 for service on the Western Front. The actions of 1916 and 1917 were shared with the 21st Battalion (Yeoman Rifles) who continue: Nov 1917 Moved to Italy to strengthen Italian resistance. Mar 1918 Returned to France landing at Sombrin and disbanded in France on 16.03.1918. [http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/units/1508/kings-royal-rifle-corps/] His son Alan noted: 'Lieutenant in 18th (21st?) battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps; served in trenches in France; later transferred to RFC/RAF. Adjutant at Salisbury Plain'. Alan was right on both Battalions, because in 1918 David Caldow Simpson's marriage certificate stated '21st K.R.R.'. On 21 Sep 1917 2nd Lt D C Simpson (21Bt KRRC) was admitted to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station with a gunshot wound in the neck and transferred to hospital. [Reference MH106/197 National Archives Kew, 'First World War Representative Medical Records of Servicemen from 139th Field Ambulance'] The Battle of the Menin Road Ridge had begun the day before (part of the Third Battle of Ypres) and the 21st Bt was there so it's likely this is where he was wounded. In 1918 David Caldow Simpson transferred to the newly-formed Royal Air Force and was posted as follows: 23 July 18: To No.1 School of Military Aeronautics ('1SofA') (Reading, Berkshire) 3 Aug 1918: To Eastchurch Station (later RAF Eastchurch) (unknown date): No.1 School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping ('1sofN&BD') (Stonehenge)* 30 Sep 1918: To BGF - day bombing observer** 3 October 1918: Central Hospital (presume Hampstead) 25 Apr 1919: Dispersed *This fits with his son Alan's recollection of him being an 'Adjutant at Salisbury Plain' **His wife Dorothy recounted to me c.1970 that he flew in Bristol fighters and went 'upside down'! Gazette Entries:- 28 Sep 1918: Temporary 2nd Lieutenant - Observer Officer 29 Sep 1918: Lieutenant
  WW2	27 Dec 1941
  	From the London Gazette, 19 January 1943: 'The undermentioned to be 2nd Lts. without pay and allces. from Army Funds: - 27th Dec. 1941:- David Caldow Simpson (254001).'
  Died	2 Mar 1969	Ivy Cottage, Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex
  Probate	21 May 1969	Ipswich
  	SIMPSON David Caldow of Ivy Cottage Thorpe le Soken Essex died 2 March 1969 Probate Ipswich 21 May. £42853.
  Buried	Kirby-le-Soken	Essex, England
  Person ID	I11855	Simpson & Elder
  Last Modified	1 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	William David Simpson,   b. 22 Oct 1846, Whitechapel ,   d. 6 May 1896, West Ham, Essex  (Age 49 years)
  Mother	Minnie later Minnia Rodwell,   b. 13 Aug 1855, Guildford, Surrey ,   d. 26 Jan 1948, Registration District 'Essex South Western'  (Age 92 years)
  Married	22 Oct 1887	West Ham, England
  	Date from family notes
  Family ID	F177	Group Sheet

  
  

  Family	Dorothy Helen Muller,   b. 22 Feb 1899, West Ham, London ,   d. 31 Mar 1982, Ivy Cottage, Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex  (Age 83 years)  [3]
  Married	19 Mar 1918	Emmanuel Church, Forest Gate
  	David Caldow Simpson, 24, Bachelor, 2nd Lieut. 21st K.R.R. (Kings Royal Rifles), 13 Horace Road, Father William Simpson, deceased. Dorothy Helen Muller, 21, Spinster, 11 Osbourne Road, Father George William Muller, retired. Witnesses: P H Arnold, E C Muller*. (*'E C Muller' is almost certainly Evelyn Catherine Muller nee Home)
  Children	+ 1. David Caldow Simpson, LDS RCS,   b. 27 Jul 1919, 11 Osborne Road, Forest Gate, London ,   d. 9 Nov 1985  (Age 66 years) + 2. Betty Minnia Simpson,   b. 8 Dec 1921, West Ham ,   d. 14 Jul 2012, Mayals Green, Swansea  (Age 90 years) + 3. Alan Ian Simpson,   b. 12 Jan 1932, District of West Ham ,   d. 24 Sep 2004, Chelsworth, Suffolk  (Age 72 years)
  Photos		Golden Wedding celebration of David Caldow Simpson and Dorothy (nee Muller), March 1968. L/R: David Caldow Simpson (b.1892), David Caldow Simpson (b.1919), Betty Minnia Simpson, Alan Ian Simpson, Dorothy Helen Simpson nee Muller.
  Last Modified	16 Feb 2015
  Family ID	F178	Group Sheet

  
  

• Sources

  [S5] Information kindly supplied by John Gerard Simpson (Reliability: 3). [S5] Information kindly supplied by John Gerard Simpson (Reliability: 3). From notes made by his son Alan. [S5] Information kindly supplied by John Gerard Simpson.