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Gunner William Robert Simpson
Description
TitleGunner William Robert SimpsonSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionWilliam was born 17 February 1888, the youngest son of George Francis and Ellen Simpson. His father was proprietor of the Southbridge Flour Mill at what was known as Milltown. William was educated at the Southbridge School and was well known throughout the district as a young man of upright character. He was long time secretary of the Southbridge District Band and was a prominent member of the Southbridge Presbyterian Church. Before enlisting he was a threshing engine driver for his father. He was 5ft 8in tall with a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair.
He enlisted at Trentham on the 25 August 1915 and was assigned to the Field Artillery. He embarked with the 8th Reinforcements on 13 November 1915 bound for Suez, disembarking just before Christmas on 20 December. On 7 April 1916 he embarked for France. On the 3rd of August he was admitted to hospital with a wound to his right arm on the 8th but was able to re-join his unit on the 14th. On 29 August he had another spell in hospital, this time suffering from flu but was discharged on 2 September. Sadly he was killed in action on the 25 September, aged 28. The New Zealand Division were taking part in the battle for Morval.
William was initially buried on a hill south of a small graveyard, 1 mile south of Flers. He was later gathered in to the Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval. When news reached the district the Ellesmere Guardian records that “the flag over the Town Hall was flown yesterday in honour of the gallant young soldier who had given his life in the service of his King and Empire and in the cause of righteousness”. William is remembered on the Ellesmere County War Memorial, Southbridge Plaque and the Southbridge School Roll of Honour.
CWGC locale history: Delville Wood was a tract of woodland, nearly 1km square, the western edge of which touched the village of Longueval in the Somme. On 14 July 1916 the greater part of Longueval village was taken by the 9th (Scottish) Division and on the 15th, the South African Brigade of that Division captured most of Delville Wood. The wood now formed a salient in the line, with Waterlot Farm and Mons Wood on the south flank still in German hands, and, owing to the height of the trees, no close artillery support was possible for defence. The three South African battalions fought continuously for six days and suffered heavy casualties. On 18 July, they were forced back and on the evening of the 20th the survivors, a mere handful of men, were relieved. On 27 July, the 2nd Division retook the wood and held it until 4 August when the 17th Division took it over. On 18 and 25 August it was finally cleared of all German resistance by the 14th (Light) Division. The wood was then held until the end of April 1918 when it was lost during the German advance, but was retaken by the 38th (Welsh) Division on the following 28 August.
Delville Wood Cemetery was made after the Armistice, when graves were brought in from a few small cemeteries and isolated sites, and from the battlefields. Almost all of the burials date from July, August and September 1916. Commonwealth graves from the following were concentrated into Delville Wood Cemetery:- Lone Ridge Cemetery, Longueval, between Delville Wood and the centre of the village, contained the graves of 52 soldiers who fell at the end of August, 1918; There are now 5,523 burials and commemorations of the First World War in this cemetery. 3,593 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 27 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of three soldiers buried in Courcelette Communal Cemetery German Extension, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.First NameWilliam RobertLast NameSimpsonFamilySingleSon of George Francis and Ellen SimpsonDate of Birth17 February 1888Place of BirthSouthbridgeDate of Death25 September 1916Place of DeathSomme, FranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death28
He enlisted at Trentham on the 25 August 1915 and was assigned to the Field Artillery. He embarked with the 8th Reinforcements on 13 November 1915 bound for Suez, disembarking just before Christmas on 20 December. On 7 April 1916 he embarked for France. On the 3rd of August he was admitted to hospital with a wound to his right arm on the 8th but was able to re-join his unit on the 14th. On 29 August he had another spell in hospital, this time suffering from flu but was discharged on 2 September. Sadly he was killed in action on the 25 September, aged 28. The New Zealand Division were taking part in the battle for Morval.
William was initially buried on a hill south of a small graveyard, 1 mile south of Flers. He was later gathered in to the Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval. When news reached the district the Ellesmere Guardian records that “the flag over the Town Hall was flown yesterday in honour of the gallant young soldier who had given his life in the service of his King and Empire and in the cause of righteousness”. William is remembered on the Ellesmere County War Memorial, Southbridge Plaque and the Southbridge School Roll of Honour.
CWGC locale history: Delville Wood was a tract of woodland, nearly 1km square, the western edge of which touched the village of Longueval in the Somme. On 14 July 1916 the greater part of Longueval village was taken by the 9th (Scottish) Division and on the 15th, the South African Brigade of that Division captured most of Delville Wood. The wood now formed a salient in the line, with Waterlot Farm and Mons Wood on the south flank still in German hands, and, owing to the height of the trees, no close artillery support was possible for defence. The three South African battalions fought continuously for six days and suffered heavy casualties. On 18 July, they were forced back and on the evening of the 20th the survivors, a mere handful of men, were relieved. On 27 July, the 2nd Division retook the wood and held it until 4 August when the 17th Division took it over. On 18 and 25 August it was finally cleared of all German resistance by the 14th (Light) Division. The wood was then held until the end of April 1918 when it was lost during the German advance, but was retaken by the 38th (Welsh) Division on the following 28 August.
Delville Wood Cemetery was made after the Armistice, when graves were brought in from a few small cemeteries and isolated sites, and from the battlefields. Almost all of the burials date from July, August and September 1916. Commonwealth graves from the following were concentrated into Delville Wood Cemetery:- Lone Ridge Cemetery, Longueval, between Delville Wood and the centre of the village, contained the graves of 52 soldiers who fell at the end of August, 1918; There are now 5,523 burials and commemorations of the First World War in this cemetery. 3,593 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 27 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of three soldiers buried in Courcelette Communal Cemetery German Extension, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.First NameWilliam RobertLast NameSimpsonFamilySingleSon of George Francis and Ellen SimpsonDate of Birth17 February 1888Place of BirthSouthbridgeDate of Death25 September 1916Place of DeathSomme, FranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death28
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryDelville Wood Cemetery, FranceEllesmere County War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingThreshing Engine DriverRegiment or ServiceNew Zealand Field ArtilleryService Number2/2541Rank Last HeldGunner
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Gunner William Robert Simpson. Selwyn Stories, accessed 12/11/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/440
