Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

George Henry Simpson was born on 23 June 1896 at Timaru, the only son of Scottish-born Thomas Simpson and his English-born wife Mary Ann (Polly) née Lack. George and his six sisters attended Gleniti School in the days when it was known as Wai-iti School. A very pleasant gathering of the scholars and friends of the Gleniti Sunday School took place in early April 1907, the occasion being the annual treat and prize-giving. Not only was Mrs Simpson among the donors of prizes, but George and his older sister Emyline (Emma) were recipients, both for Lessons. On 20 December 1907, the Wai-iti School children, teachers and friends were favoured with a very nice afternoon for the breaking-up ceremony and the annual picnic of the school. George received a prize for General. In June 1911, G. Simpson and several others of the Boy Scouts No. 5 (Gleniti) Troop had completed their second-class troop. The troop was in a healthy condition with good attendances, engaging in knotting, ambulance and signalling practice.

In June 1917, George Henry Simpson, ploughman, Gleniti, was drawn in the Eighth Ballot and called up for service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. In 1916 he had been listed on the Reserve Rolls, a ploughman at Gleiti, Levels. He was medically examined on 25 June 1917 at Timaru by the Travelling Medical Board and found fit for service in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in and beyond New Zealand. He was 5 feet 8½ inches tall, weighed 139 pounds, had a chest measurement of 33-35 inches, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and dark hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. Free from diseases, vaccinated, and in good bodily and mental health, Class A. Enlisting on 25 June 1917 at Timaru, he named his father as next-of-kin – Mr Thomas Simpson, Gleniti, Timaru, South Canterbury. He was himself residing at Gleniti, single and Presbyterian, and serving with the 2nd Regiment, A Company. Private G. H. Simpson was posted to the 30th Reinforcements on 23 July 1917.

‘A most successful social and dance was held in the Gleniti school last Wednesday evening, the occasion being a presentation to Private G. Simpson. A very large gathering of residents of the surrounding district was present, showing the high esteem in which Private G. Simpson is held. At the supper adjournment, Mr Cruickshanks, as chairman, and others present spoke of the good qualities of Private Simpson. Mr J. Lane, secretary of the Farewell Committee, presented the departing soldier with a pipe, shaving outfit, and wristlet watch, at the same time wishing him God speed and a safe return. Miss Page buckled on the watch amid applause, and the company sang “For he’s a jolly good fellow.” Private Simpson suitably replied. During the evening songs were contributed by Messrs Chapman, Cruickshanks, and Townsend, and Miss Davidson a whistling solo. Excellent music for the dance was supplied by Miss Davidson, with extras by Messrs Chapman and Lack.’ [Timaru Herald, 3 September 1917.] On 1 September 1917 at Trentham, he was penalised for overstaying leave.

Private George Henry Simpson embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Regiment of the 30th Reinforcements, leaving Wellington per the “Corinthic”on 13 October 1917 and disembarking at Liverpool, England, on 8 December. He marched into Sling on 9 December. Proceeding overseas to France on 14 February 1918, he was attached to Strength two days later. Joining No. 2 New Zealand Entrenching Battalion on 11 April, he was wounded just three days later in the Field. The Casualty List issued on 6 May 1918 named 60997 George Henry Simpson, Entrenching Battalion, as wounded on 16 April. His had earlier been listed as not a severe case. It was 16 April that he was admitted to No. 24 General Hospital. The next day he embarked per Hospital Ship and was admitted to No. 1 New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenhurst.

Mr T. Simpson, Glen-iti, had received word that his son, Private G. Simpson, had been admitted to hospital in England on April 18, suffering from a gunshot wound in the left shoulder. After being transferred to the Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch on 29 May 1918, he left there on 24 June and reported to Codford on 9 July after leave. The next day he was admitted to No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital (Codford, Venereal Section), his complaint diagnosed a few days later. On 2 August he was discharged from the V.D. Section (Balanitis). Then on 14 August he was admitted again to No. 3 NZ General Hospital V.D. Section, and discharged on 8 October 1918. Going to the Command Depot at Codford on 16 October, he was re-posted to the Canterbury Regiment. He marched into Sling again on 21 October and in January 1919 was taken on Strength at Torquay from Larkhill. On 16 October 1918 at Codford, while a Private with the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, No. 60997 George Henry Simpson signed that he had no desire to make a Will. The Somerset’s Draft left Liverpool on 2 July 1919 and was due at Lyttelton on 12 or 18 August 1919, bringing 60997 Private G. H. Simpson. He was discharged on 17 September 1919, on the termination of his period of engagement. For his service in Western Europe, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

George married Margaret Leathen/Letham Cullen Jack (known affectionately as Nettie) on 28 March 1928 at Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Timaru. In July 1915 at Timaru, Nettie Jack contributed ward slippers as Ambulance Comforts to the fund for the New Zealand Sick and Wounded. George may have first met Nettie when she and her siblings entered Gleniti School from Scotland in 1907. Nettie was born (possibly Janet/Janette) in May 1898 at New Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland, the daughter of James Jack and his first wife Helen Henderson Brown. Helen may have died soon after, as James married Catherine Chapman in October 1898. James, Catherine and four children came to New Zealand in 1907 – Nettie, Dorothy, James and John. A fifth child, Alfred Vincent Jack (known as Frederick) was born in 1908, his birth registered at Temuka. In 1910 the children transferred to Albury School (Nettie recorded as Janette). James Jack died at his Albury residence in 1918. A few years later Catherine moved to Christchurch where she died in 1953. Both George and Margaret were residing at Gleniti when they married. Besides Nettie, her brother James remained in South Canterbury. Margaret Rona Simpson, the only child of George and Nettie, was born in February 1929 at Timaru. George and Margaret (Nettie) lived all their married life at Gleniti, George employed as a gardener.

George Henry Simpson died on 1 March 1978 at Timaru, aged 81 years. His funeral service was held at the Salisbury Park Crematorium Chapel and was attended by members of the South Canterbury R.S.A. His ashes were interred in the Services Section of Timaru Cemetery, a Services plaque marking the plot. He was survived by his only daughter and his son-in-law (Margaret and Don Pitt). His wife Margaret had died on 28 September 1975. She too was cremated, her ashes interred with her father at Albury Cemetery. In his Will signed at Timaru on 24 May 1974, George Henry Simpson described himself as a retired green keeper. He appointed his son-in-law, Donald George Pitt, and a Timaru solicitor as Executors and Trustees. He bequeathed to his wife, Margaret Leathen Cullen Simpson, all his personal effects, furniture, any motor car, including all articles of personal, domestic or household use or ornament. In the event of his wife’s death or remarriage, the residue of his estate was to be held for his daughter, Margaret Rona Pitt. He also made provision for a section to be purchased and an ownership flat to be built for the occupation of his wife during her widowhood. As Margaret had predeceased George, his daughter was probably the prime beneficiary. George’s father, Thomas Simpson, died in 1923 and his mother, Mary Ann in 1957; they are buried at Timaru, as are four of their five daughters. Margaret Rona Pitt died in December 2021, the loving daughter of the late Nettie and George Simpson late of Gleniti). James Jack died in 1979 at Timaru, brother of Dorothy, John, Fred and the late Nettie.

G. Simpson is remembered (“Also Served”) on the Gleniti War Memorial, erected between the two main doors of the Gleniti School, and unveiled on 27 December 1919. The unveiling ceremony commenced with the singing of the National Anthem and closed with all singing “God Save the King”. The Ven. Archdeacon Jacob, who had come out from Timaru with Rev. Father Bartley, spoke of the great object lesson of duty which had been taught to future generations by those who had made such great sacrifices in the war. The schoolchildren, whenever they looked at the tablet, would remember and be proud of those who had fought to keep their country free from the horrors of invasion. The Rev. Father Bartley spoke of the great sacrifices of those who had fought for their country. The greatest heroes were those who had made the supreme sacrifice and who were now sleeping in the distant fields of Gallipoli, Egypt and France.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [01 August 2016]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives ref. AABK 18805 W5553 0104937) [02 August 2016]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [01 August 2016]; Timaru Herald, 2 March 1978 (Timaru District Library) [02 August 2016]; Timaru Herald, 8 April 1907, 21 December 1907, 7 June 1911, 29 May 1917, 7 June 1917, 3 September 1917, 4 & 7 May 1918, 2 & 8 August 1919, NZ Times, 26 April 1918, 7 May 1918, 6 & 8 August 1919, 27 December 1919, Sun, 7 May 1918, Star, 5 August 1919, Press, 2 March 1928, 15 November 1979 (Papers Past) [18 November 2013; 01 May 2024]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [03 August 2016]; Timaru Cemetery plaque image (Timaru District Council) [04 August 2016]; Probate record (Archives NZ Collections Record number 116/1978) [01 May 2024]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [02 May 2024]; Presbyterian Marriage record (South Canterbury Museum/South Canterbury Genealogy Society) [03 May 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

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