Description
1914 Star, with 5th Aug – 22nd Nov 1914 clasp, British War & Victory Medal, CH18451 Private John Simpson, Royal Marines Light Infantry.
1914 Star officially impressed: “CH18451 Pte J. Simpson. R.M. Brigade”
WW1 Pair officially impressed: “CH18451 Pte J. Simpson. R.M.L.I.”
John was an Officers Servant in the Royal Navy for a few years having started off a career in the Navy as a Boy Servant aged 17.
However with war brewing on the horizon, he chose to switch it up and took his discharge in order to become a Royal Marine, signing on at the Royal Marine Barracks at Chatham on 1st April 1914.
He would see early active service in the war, when he was mobilised with the Royal Marines Brigade to land at Dunkirk on 20th September 1914, serving there until 2nd October 1914 when they were withdrawn.
He then took part in the Defence of Antwerp from 3rd October until 9th October 1914.
Being deployed early into the war to defend Antwerp, he was amongst the rag tag group of Royal Marines and Sailors who were sent there, to defend the important Port from the Germans, following the retreat of the British Expeditionary Force who were on the back foot since arriving in August of 1914.
Winston Churchill went over to Antwerp himself to take command of the men, riding round in his open top Rolls Royce encouraging them as the Germans closed in.
A good article on the Churchill’s antics and his Naval Division at Antwerp can be read below:
https://winstonchurchill.hillsdale.edu/world-crisis3-antwerp/
With the order to withdraw from Dunkirk, he was one of the lucky ones who were not forced over the border to the Netherlands, all these men would end up sidelined being interned at Groningen.
Following this he was posted back to the front, his papers read: “9th Nov 1915 Granted a Hurt Certificate Wounded in Action”
The wound was bad and lead to his discharge soon afterwards.
“Discharged, Invalided on 11th March 1916 for Loss of Left Arm by Amputation following bullet wound of chest”
