Cpl 22840 Percy Tom Simpson

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Wednesday 1st August 1917
• Commemorated at: Lijssenthoek M C Poperinghe
  Panel Ref: XVII.C.7A

Percy Tom Simpson was born in Kirkdale, Liverpool in the June quarter of 1892, the son of Thomas Simpson and his wife Sarah (nee Priest), who married in Salford in 1877.  Percy had older siblings William, James, Emma, and Sarah, and a younger brother Reginald.  From their marriage until at least 1891, the family lived at 8 Kirkdale Vale, Liverpool.

In 1894 they lived at 64 Dunluce Street, and by 1901 the family is living at 8 Highfield Road, Walton. His father is a merchant’s clerk, brothers William, 19, and James, 16, are both corn merchant’s clerks, Emma is 14, Sarah 12, Percy is 8 and Reginald is 6. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 8 Highfield Road, Liverpool. His father, Thomas, is aged 61, born 1850 in Birkenhead and is a merchants clerk, whilst his mother Sarah, is aged 58, born 1853 in Hulme, Lancashire. They have been married for 33 years and have had eight children of which two have sadly died. Those listed in the household are; William aged 29, born 1882 occupation traveller, Emma aged 24 born 1887 no occupation, Sarah Beatrice aged 22 born 1889 is a shop assistant, Percy Tom aged 18, born 1893 is a clerk in an estate agents and Reginald Charles aged 16, born 1895 is a clerk with a solicitors. The children were all born in Liverpool.

His mother died aged 57 in 1913.

Percy enlisted in Liverpool on 09th November 1914, as Private 22840, 20^th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. He gave his age as 22 and 6 months, and his occupation as clerk.  He is described as being 5’ 7” tall, weighing 132 lbs, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. He gives his next of kin as his father Thomas Simpson, at 8 Highfield Street, and his religion as Church of England.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915 disembarking at Boulogne.

He was appointed Corporal on 30^th July 1916, during the Battle of the Somme.

Percy was granted leave to the UK from 24^th May to 3^rd June 1917, and returned to his battalion, now in the Ypres Salient. He was was wounded in action on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele on 31^st July 1917, with shell wounds to his face, neck, and left shoulder, and admitted to 17 Casualty Clearing Station, where he died of his wounds the next day. He was 25 years of age.

He now rests at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinghe, Belgium. The Inscription on his headstone reads:

“TRUE TO THE LAST”

During the First World War, the village of Lijssenthoek was situated on the main communication line between the Allied military bases in the rear and the Ypres battlefields. Close to the Front, but out of the extreme range of most German field artillery, it became a natural place to establish casualty clearing stations. The cemetery was first used by the French 15th Hopital D'Evacuation and in June 1915, it began to be used by casualty clearing stations of the Commonwealth forces.

From April to August 1918, the casualty clearing stations fell back before the German advance and field ambulances (including a French ambulance) took their places.

The cemetery contains 9,901 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 24 being unidentified. There are 883 war graves of other nationalities, mostly French and German, 11 of these are unidentified. There is 1 Non World War burial here.

The only concentration burials were 24 added to Plot XXXI in 1920 from isolated positions near Poperinghe and 17 added to Plot XXXII from St. Denijs Churchyard in 1981.

Eight of the headstones are Special Memorials to men known to be buried in this cemetery, these are located together alongside Plot 32 near the Stone of Remembrance.

The cemetery, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, is the second largest Commonwealth cemetery in Belgium.

His father was notified of Percy’s death on 06^th August, and on 08^th August announced his death in the Liverpool Echo: 

“August 1, died of wounds, in No. 17 Casualty Clearing Station, in his 25^th year, Corpl. Percy Tom, K.L.R. (“Pals”), dearly-beloved son of Thomas and the late Sarah Simpson, of 8 Highfield Road, Walton.”

His father received his personal effects on 05^th April 1918:  1 disc, pocket knife, coin (5 cts).

His family placed an In Memoriam notice in the Liverpool Echo on 01st August 1918:

“In loving memory of Percy Tom Simpson, K.L.R., who died of wounds received in action, August 1, 1917, the dearly-beloved son of Thomas and the late Sarah Simpson. (Thy will be done.). 8 Highfield Road, Walton.”

Percy earned his three medals.

The CWGC headstone schedule gives his next of kin as William Simpson of 23 Coronation Drive, Great Crosby.

Percy is also commemorated on the St Mary’s C. of E. Church, Walton, Young Men’s Bible Club.

His older brother James served in the Merchant Navy during the war. Assistant Purser James Simpson was killed when his ship, the S.S. ”Hesperian” was attacked by an enemy submarine on 04^th September 1915.  He was 31.  He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

His younger brother Reginald served in the Royal Garrison Artillery, as Gnr 66852, and was discharged in 1917 with a Silver War Badge.

His father died in January 1921, aged 71.

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