Arthur Wilson Simpkin

Arthur was the eldest of 3 sons and he attended King Edward School, Bath where he excelled at cricket. On leaving school he took up a position as a mining engineering student in Yorkshire. Arthur’s younger brother Stanley was seriously injured in action receiving a bullet wound to the head, but for his endeavours during that action he received the Military Cross.

Arthur was born in 1894 the son of John William and Emily Simpkin. John was a Mining Engineer and came from a family who had long standing connections with Joan Royd Colliery in Heckmondwike.

Arthur’s parents moved to Midsomer Norton in Somerset when his father took up a post as a Mining Instructor for Somerset County Council. The family later moved back to Yorkshire and lived at Woodkirk.

Arthur was born in Midsummer Norton and baptised in Morley – his mother’s home town – before the war Arthur was a mining pupil at Snydale Colliery near Pontefract. He and his two brothers Harry and Stanley served in the army, Arthur and Harry both died in 1918 within six months of each other. Stanley was severely wounded but survived.

They served together with the 13th Battalion and in early 1917 were engaged in action on the Somme.

On November 23rd 1917 they were in action during the Cambrai offensive and took part in bitter fighting at the capture of Bourlon Wood and village.

Captain Harry Hargreaves Simpkin was killed in action on March 22nd 1918 aged 21 and he is remembered on the Arras Memorial. He has no known grave

Harry Hargreaves Simpkin – 13th Battalion. and

Captain Arthur Wilson Simpkin – 13th Battalion att’d 8th West Yorkshires.

Brothers Arthur and Harry Simpkin were both born in Midsummer Norton in Somerset.

The brothers joined the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps and first saw service with the Notts and Derbys regiment.

They served together with the 13th battalion and crossed from Southampton to Le Havre on June 6th 1916. The brothers saw action in the Loos and Lens sectors in 1916 and in early 1917 were engaged on the Somme. On November 23rd 1917 they were in action during the Cambrai offensive and took part in bitter fighting at the capture of Bourlon Wood and village.

When the German spring offensive opened in March 1918 the captains Simpkin were rushed up to Hamelincourt and from there into trenches east of St Leger.

At 7-00am on March 22nd Captain Harry Simpkin led “D” company into a bombing attack on the German line. They killed about twenty of the enemy and captured seven machine guns but within minutes some 300 Germans counter attacked and drove them off.

Captain Harry Hargreaves Simpkin was killed in this action on March 22nd 1918 aged 22 and his body lost is remembered today on the Arras Memorial.

After the loss of his brother Captain Arthur Simpkin served on with the 13th battalion and after the German offensive was stemmed next saw action during the Battle of the Lys in April of 1918.

While at St Momelin on May 3rd Arthur Simpkin learnt that the 13th battalion was to be disbanded and he joined some of the other officers at the base depot in Calais.

From here Captain Simpkin was attached to the 8th battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment.

At 6-30am on September 30th the 8th West Yorks were in trenches east of Masnieres and from here attacked the village of Seranvillers. Heavy fighting ensued and by the end of the day the battalion had only one officer left.

Captain Arthur Wilson Simpkin was killed in this action on September 30th 1918 at the age of 22.

His grave can be visited today at Ruyalcourt Military Cemetery six miles east of Bapaume.

Arthur and Harry Simpkin were the sons of John William and Emily Simpkin of Norton Royd, Woodkirk in Dewsbury.