1914 Star Mons Star to Pte. C Simpson, Bugler 1/KRRC POW Nov 14

[Tony]

I picked this 1914 Star up a few years ago in NSW.

Charles Simpson was a baker from Lambeth, London who in July 1902, while serving in the militia, decided to sign up for 12 years in the regulars.

According to his record nothing too exciting happened during his service until 1914. From 1902 to 1909 he served in Malta and Egypt, was appointed the rank of Bugler in 1906, didn't like the job much so reverted to Rifleman a few months later. In 1907 he struck a superior officer, got 42 days in clink and lost his good conduct badge. Just before returning home from Cairo in late 1909, Charles fell ill after liaising with an unclean lady of the night.

In 1913 he forfeited his GC Badge (Good Conduct?) for the 4th time.

At just about the time when his 12 years with the colours was over the Great War started, Charles' unit left Salamanca Bks. in Aldershot on 12/8/14, arriving in Rouen the following day and billets in Hannapes on the 15th.

After a full week of route marches they left for an area south of Mons, coming under enemy artillery fire for the first time near Givry on the 23rd August.

By 1/9/14 the battalion had retreated to Villers-Cotterets (SW of Soissons) and were resting within hearing distance of German rifle fire. By the 5th the battalion had retreated to Chaumes, south of Foret de Crecy, its furthest point south when the German advance stopped, the next day the battalion started its march northwards.

9/9/14 the advance reached Coupre, west of Chateau Thierry, the next day there was a 90 minute firefight with the enemy at Chezy en Orxois resulting in 10 NCOs/ORs killed, 4 officers and 60 ORs wounded and 5 men missing, German prisoners were taken after they surrended.

28/9/14 the new machine gun arrives and is tried out on the enemy, at 4pm enemy artillery opens fire, water jacket punctured by shrapnel and 1 NCO killed by sniper.

30/9/14 Rifleman killed by expanding bullet and one other wounded by expanding bullet.

October starts very quiet, replacement officers and men arrive on the 5th, three days later one of the replacement officers is wounded while drawing enemy's fire.

The next 4 days are very quiet, only 8 wounded and 1 killed, relieved near Oeuilly by the French on 13th, CO's servant killed on 14th, march to train at Fesmes on 15th, destination unknown.

Arrived Ypres on the 20th and moved into positions at the NW corner of Polygon Wood 1/11/14

Charles' service record states he was reported missing on 1/11/14 and reported as a POW on the 3rd.

According to the War Diary 437 Other Ranks were missing after a German attack on the 2nd Nov., it's likely that Charles Simpson was captured during this attack as the Diary makes no mention of men missing on the 1st Nov.

The 1/KRRC were in the NW corner of Polygon Wood during the morning of the 1st Nov. and later in the day went into the line to occupy trenches running south from the Hooge / Gheluvelt Rd.

I'm not sure which unit attacked the 1/KRRC but after checking maps it looks as though Battle Group Fabeck 27th Res. Corps., 54 Res. Div. attacked the area during this phase of 1st Ypres.

Charles remained in a Germam POW camp until his repatriation in December 1918, was given 3 months leave and then sent out on Operation Archangel. His discharge finally came in October 1920, his Great War service entitled him to the 1914 Star with clasp and roses, the British War and Victory medals.

It's great to find a service record that survived the Blitz and with the Red Cross records being released shortly it makes researching these men far more interesting.

[lambert]

Great .. very good Tony!

Lambert

[Brian Wolfe]

An interesting and very complete history.

Thanks for posting this, Tony.

Regards

Brian

[peter monahan]

Got and lost the GC Badge four times! Probably a pretty good soldier when he was sober! Great story, Tony. Thanks for sharing.