Maternal Grandfather - George Simpson

[Cat]

Hi, I'm desperate to find more information on my Maternal Grandfather George Simpson. Born and bred in Manchester, I have been told he served in the Manchester regiment. I have a professional photo of him, in uniform. Is there anyone who would be able to identify his rank  and if he was indeed with the Manchester Regiment from this photograph?

[rafboy]

Welcome to the forum Cat.
Yes, in the photo he is a Captain in the Manchester Regiment as confirmed by his hat badge and the 3 pips on his shoulder.
I expect that someone will be along shortly that may have known him.
It looks as though he has the General Service Medal possibly for Malaya or if earlier Palestine. If you find that he did serve in Malaya have a look in the photo section:
   http://themanchesters.org/forum/index.php?topic=627.0

[Cat]

Thank you so much, I feel I'm taking a little step forward in finding him. Thank you again

[Cat]

He was born in 1905, I'm not sure a what point he joined the regiment. I know from my Mum, that as a young child they were stationed in India and  have loads of photo's from this period. My Mum was born in 1928 so would be really grateful for any info on the time scale that the Manchesters were there.

[rafboy]

Hi again Cat.
I think everyone else who could help must be away at the moment.
You could try requesting his service record assuming he was serving in 1921 and later they should be available from:
Army Personnel Centre
Disclosures 4 (Historical)
MP400
Kentigern House
65 Brown Street
Glasgow
G2 8EX

email: [email protected]

Tel: 0845 600 9663

They will cost you £30 (This may have gone up) and you will have to fill in a Certificate of Kinship which can be obtained from the above address with an information sheet.
I would try a quick phone call first.
Cliff

[rafboy]

A little more information for you Cat.
"Meanwhile, in 1920, the 2nd Manchesters became part of the garrison in Mesopotamia,[51] which had been acquired by Britain as a mandate territory under the auspices of the League of Nations.[52] During an action near Hillah, Captain Henderson reorganised his company, who were wavering in the face of a large force of tribesmen, then led the company in three attacks against the tribesmen, being severely wounded in the second attack, though carrying on for the third and final counter-attack. He carried on fighting until he succumbed to a loss of blood and collapsed. Aided by one of his men, who helped him to stand, Henderson told his company, "I'm done now, don't let them beat you." He was shot again, which killed him. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions.[53] The battalion departed for India in 1922, where it remained until 1932. At the beginning of the Second World War, it was stationed in Britain.[4]"

So from your comments about India it would seem that he served with the 2nd Battalion.
The above information came from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Regiment#Inter-war_years
Cliff

[charlie]

Hello Cat and welcome to the forum.
As Cliff has already suggested your best course of action is to apply for his service record. The forms that need to be filled in are available online
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-records

Charlie

[Cat]

Thank you both so very much. I do not know his service number - would I need that piece of information in order to apply for his record?

[charlie]

It is not necessary, fill in the the forms with as much information as you can and they will do the rest.

Charlie

[Cat]

Thanks again Charlie. I have looked at the relevant forms and it seems that you need to provide a death certificate and that is a major stumbling block as this is information I just don't have. My Mum last had any contact with him on her 21st birthday which would have been 1949. Because George Simpson is such a common name (not even a middle name to help me), I am struggling on any information after that time period. He does not appear on the 1939 UK Register but if the regiment were in India then I guess that would explain that?

[charlie]

Do you have any further information eg his exact date of birth, names of his parents, his wife‘s name, date of marriage etc ? If so post what you have and perhaps we can help.

Charlie

[Cat]

Thank you so much Charlie, I appreciate the advice and help very much. So, he was born 15 Dec 1905 in Manchester. The son of Albert Simpson who also served in the Manchester regiment and I have 1 of his medals with his number 7158 & name on the back and Mary Emma Simpson nee Thelwell. He married my grandmother, Winifred May Gillingham 30 Oct 1926 in Hammersmith, London. Their only child, my Mum was born in Herne Bay, Kent, 22 Nov 1928. On the 1911 Census he was living with his family at 28, Green Street, Withington, Manchester and this is just about the only reliable information I have. Of course I now know that he was a Captain and definitely in the Manchester regiment.

[sphinx]

Cat,

I have searched all my Army Lists, which have names of officers in all Regiments and cant find him.

I have searched the London Gazette that have all commissions and promotions and cant find him.

I have searched the Medal Rolls for The India General Service medal for Clasp Burma 1930-32, The General Service medal for |Palestine and again cant find him.

However his father Albert was a Volunteer Soldier of the 5th (Ardwick) Volunteer Battalion The Manchester Regiment and in the Boer War volunteered for overseas service.  He was given the number 7158 and served with the 2nd Volunteer Service Company of the Manchester Regiment which joined the 1st Bn. The Manchester Regiment in South Africa on 7.5.1901 as their 'K' Company.  They left for the UK on 25.4.1902.  The medal you have is his Queens South Africa Medal and should have 5 clasps, namely, Cape Colony; Orange Free State; Transvaal, S.Africa 1901 and S. Africa 1902.  Sometimes the 2 date clasps are loose on the ribbon or absent as they were issued later.  On his return he would have remained in the 5th (Ardwick)VB.  The Ardwick Drill Hall where he paraded and drilled is still standing and is a magnificent example of a Drill Hall.

regards

[Keith Brannen]

As rafboy said, it might be a good idea to call them and explain your situation. The fact that he was born in 1905 (would be 112 if still alive) certainly suggests he is long dead (the verified oldest man in the world is 112, and there is no George Simpson on this list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_verified_oldest_men). So, you may not need a death certificate.

[Cat]

Thank you both very much for taking the time to check him out. I'm not sure where that leaves things now or what it means that you can't find him on any lists??I think perhaps I may have to accept that I wont be able to find anything further but I sincerely thank you all for your help and advice.