Harold James Simpson - Link to Falkirk

Private Harold James Simpson. Authors image

420794 Private, 43rd Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada), 9th Canadian Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division.

Age: 23

Date of death: 15.5.16

Buried: Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery Grave VI.D.34

Family history: The youngest two sons, and they also had five daughters, of James and Margaret Simpson, 31 Nelson Street, Edinburgh. Harold was born in Falkirk and the family moved to Edinburgh. Harold’s father was a Banker in Edinburgh although he had died by the time of the 1911 census. Harold was a Bank Apprentice. He emigrated to Canada and was employed as a Bank Clerk when he enlisted on 26 December 1914 in Winnipeg. He had previous military service when in Edinburgh serving with the territorial unit the 4th Volunteer Battalion, Royal Scots for two years. He sailed for the UK on 1 June 1915 and arrived there on 10 June and went to Shorncliffe Camp before he embarked for France on 20 February 1916.

Action leading to his death

The Battalion was in the right section of the trenches at Sanctuary Wood.

Trench map showing the trench lines at Sanctuary Wood

The War Diary records that the day had been quiet and that during the night a large German working party could be heard behind their lines. The Battalion casualties are recorded as four wounded. Harold was wounded on 28 April, gunshot wound to the right shoulder, and taken to the No.9 Canadian Field Ambulance before being passed down the chain to 17 Casualty Clearing Station at Lijssenthoek. He died of his wounds at Lijssenthoek CCS on 15 May 1916.