| Regimental number | 3239 |
| Place of birth | Collingwood Victoria |
| School | State School, Victoria |
| Other training | Australian Coaching College, Victoria |
| Religion | Baptist |
| Occupation | Missionary |
| Address | Daphne Street, Canterbury, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 25 |
| Height | 5' 6.5" |
| Weight | 124 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, Robert Simpson, Daphne Street, Canterbury, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 23rd Battalion, 7th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/40/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 59th Battalion |
| Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | At first he was a salesman but he gave up his position and went into the home mission service in Tasmania during which time he often wrote short poems and Sunday verse. Whilst on board the troopship in mid ocean he wrote the 'Sailing of the Troopship', a copy of which is attached to the Roll of Honour Circular. |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France |
| Age at death | 26.10 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 26 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 17), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 168 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Robert and Isabel SIMPSON, 'Oakdene', Adamson Street, Middle Brighton, Victoria |
| Family/military connections | Cousins: Two unspecified cousins, both of whom were killed in action, one at Lone Pine, Gallipoli and the other at Fleurbaix, France on the same day. |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Allotted to and proceeded to join 58th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 23 February 1916. Transferred to 59th Bn, 15 March 1916. Admitted to 8th Field Ambulance, Ferry Post, 10 May 1916 (tonsilitis); transferred to 14th Field Ambulance, 13 May 1916; discharged to duty, and rejoined Bn, 14 May 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Posted missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 29 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'. Handwritten note on Form B103: 'Presume Buried In No Man's Land approx 5J90 43 to 5K02.5.1 Sheet Hazebrouck 5A'. Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, SIMPSON Walter Stanley |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
