Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 41883 John William Simpson

Age: 35
From: Rushen IOM
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
K.I.A Thursday 10th October 1918
Commemorated at: Le Cateau Mil Cem
Panel Ref: II.C.12

John William Simpson was born in Howe, Rushen, Isle of Man, on 17th June 1884, the second son of Robert Simpson and Emily Margaret (née Collister). His parents married in 1882 in Kirk Rushen and had eleven children.

He and many of the children were known by their middle name. He had an older brother (Robert) Edward, and younger brothers (Thomas) Alfred, (James) Frederick, George Collister (who died at 16 months), George Percival, and Charlie, and sisters Emmeline Annie, Emily Catherine, Edith Jane, and Annie Margaret.

He was baptised on 6th July 1884 in Rushen, his parents’ abode listed as Howe, and his father’s occupation as fisherman.

At the time of the 1891 census the family is living at 71 Malew Street, Castletown, with eight children. His father is a farm labourer/domestic servant. William is 6.

His sister Emmeline died the following year age 5 or 6.

By 1901 they are at 28 Hope Street, Castletown, with seven children ages 2-18. His father 42, is a coal carter, and his mother is 37. William is 16, working on his own account as a gardener (not domestic).

When he was 25, John married Isabella Catherine Watterson, 27, on 19th January 1910, in Rushen.

The 1911 census finds John and Isabella living at 1 Mona Terrace, Promenade, Castletown. They both give their age as 26, John is a domestic gardener. They have had one child, who sadly died in infancy.

His parents and six siblings are found at 22 Hope Street, Castletown.

Their daughter Emmeline Doris was born on 13th May 1912.

Before joining the Army he was a gardener with Surgeon General Stevenson, Lorne House.

He enlisted in Castletown, Isle of Man and was originally posted to the 14th Bn.K.L.R as Private No 41883. At some point he was transferred to the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment.

William served for two and a half years, enlisting in about April 1916.

William was killed in action on the 10th October 1918 aged 35 during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8^th August-11^th November 1918).

On 7th October 1918 the 18th Bn arrives at the Hindenburg Line and pursues the retreating German army. The battalion War Diary records -

10th October 1918 - At 0230 hours the battalion moved forward to a position near RUEMONT, and attacked towards LE CATEAU at 0510. Very little opposition was met with at the start but later considerable M.G. fire was encountered. … Our right company was not in touch with the flank, and the troops on the right appeared to be held up by M.G. fire from the railway embankment … A short length of trench on the high ground immediately E. of LE CATEAU was also reported to be held by the enemy. At 0848 the Centre Coy reached K.33.b and pushed a platoon into the N. W. outskirts of LE CATEAU. The right company was temporarily held up by MG and sniper fire, but appeared to be almost in the town itself. Hostile M.G. fire was reported from the direction of Q.10. … Houses in K.28.a were reported to be strongly held by the Bosche, and a patrol was sent out to investigate and deal with them. … During the advance on LE CATEAU considerable difficulty was experienced, owing to a “whizz bang” battery being able to fire over open sights at the troops as they moved up the rise and along a slight valley.

Total Casualties from 7th to 13th October:

Killed – 2 Officers, 18 O.R.

Wounded – 6 Officers, 111 O.R.

Died of Wounds – 1 O.R.

Wounded and Missing – 1 Officer, 20 O.R.

John William was one of the casualties referred to in the diary, he now rests at Le Cateau Military Cemetery, France.

Le Cateau-Cambrésis and the country to the west of it was the scene of a battle fought by the British II Corps on 26 August 1914 against a greatly superior German force. The town remained in German hands from that date until the evening of 10 October 1918, when it was rushed by the 5th Connaught Rangers and finally cleared a week later. During the war Le Cateau had been a German railhead and the site of an important hospital centre. The military cemetery was laid out by the Germans in February 1916 with separate plots for the Commonwealth and German dead. It contains the graves of over 5,000 German soldiers, many of whom were buried during the occupation, the rest being brought in from other German cemeteries after the Armistice. A separate plot contains the graves of 34 Russian prisoners of war who died in captivity. The Commonwealth plot is the site of almost 700 graves and commemorations of the First World War. The majority of the graves in Plots I, III, IV and V are those of British dead buried by the Germans, mainly from the battleground of 1914; Plot II contains entirely graves of October and November 1918, eight of which were brought in after the Armistice.

William was initially declared Missing, and his name published in the Weekly Casualty List on 10th December 1918. His death was officially assumed to have occurred on or since 10th October 1918.

His daughter was six years old when William died. Isabella received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £13-10s, and was awarded a pension of £1-0s-5d from June 1919.

His loved ones placed In Memoriam notices in the Isle of Man Examiner on 11th October 1919:

“In sad but loving memory of my dear husband, John William Simpson, 18th Batt. King’s Liverpool Regt., who was killed in action at Le Cateau, France, October 10th, 1918.

When last we saw his smiling face

He looked so strong and brave

We little thought how soon he’d lay

In a soldier’s grave.

Sadly missed by his Wife and little daughter Doris. 14 Hope Street, Castletown.”

“In loving memory of our dear son and brother, John William Simpson, who was killed in action at Le Cateau, France, on October 10th, 1918.

We have lost you, we have missed you,

We, like others, must be brave;

For we know that you are resting

In a British soldier’s grave.

Sadly missed by Mother and Father, Brothers and Sisters. 22 Hope Street, Castletown.”

“In ever loving remembrance of my dear brother, Private J. W. Simpson (Willie) of the K.L.R., presumed killed in action on or about Oct. 10th, 1918, at Le Cateau, France. - Sadly missed and ever remembered by his brother Eddie and sister-in-law. 17 Athol Terrace, Castletown.”

His family placed an In Memoriam notice in the Isle of Man Examiner on the second anniversary of his death in 1920:

“In loving memory of John William Simpson who was killed in action at Le Cateau, France, October 10th, 1918; also George Percival Simpson, who died December 5th, 1915. - Fondly remembered by father and mother, brothers and sisters, Hope Street, Castletown.”

His brother George enlisted in January 1915 when he was 17, but was discharged two months later for medical reasons and died in hospital later that year, at the age of 18.

His brother Frederick enlisted in the K.L.R. in 1907, went to India with the 2nd Bn. in 1909, and served there throughout the war. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1916, posted as Instructor (Rifles) from 1917, and extended his service to 12 years with the colours. After termination of his period of engagement he was permitted to remain in India, where he had married and his three daughters were born. He settled in Calcutta, and became a docks inspector.

His elder brother Edward enlisted in 1916 and served overseas in the Royal Engineers. He was seriously wounded in 1917 but survived the war.

Unfortunately the Isle of Man 1939 Register has not survived, so later details of the life of his widow and daughter are not known.

William is commemorated on the following memorials -

St. Mary’s Parishioners, Castletown

Castletown Primitive Methodist Church

Isle of Man Roll of Honour.

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

Killed On This Day.

(109 Years this day)
Sunday 22nd April 1917.
Pte 52865 Hyman Barnett Gadansky
28 years old

(108 Years this day)
Monday 22nd April 1918.
Pte 136181 Edwin Williams
19 years old