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Lieutenant Tom Thorp SIMPSON
1st Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry attached to the 2nd Battalion Date of birth: 19th May 1877 Date of death: 30th April 1901 Died aged 23 Unknown
Tom Thorp Simpson was born at Pontefract in Yorkshire on the 19th of May 1877 the eldest son of Dr. Walter Samuel Simpson MRCP MRCS, Medical Officer to Lancing College, and Emma (nee Thorp) Simpson, later of Heslington House, Richmond Road in Worthing. He was christened at the Church of St Giles and St Mary at Pontefract on the 20th of June 1877. He was educated at Lancing College from September 1890 to July 1895 where he was in Heads House. He was a member of the Football XI in 1894/95 and of the Cricket XI in 1894 and 1895. He was appointed as a Prefect in 1894. He went on to Caius College Cambridge from the 1st of October 1895 to study mathematics and left in 1897. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry (Militia) on the 17th of March 1897 before being commissioned in the regular army as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry on the 20th of May 1899. He was later attached to the 2nd Battalion of his regiment and went with them to South Africa at the beginning of the war. While in South Africa he wrote a letter to Lancing dated the 24th of December 1899:- "The heat here is unbearable about 110 degrees and it is too awful for anything, and we shall be very lucky if we get out of this country in the next six months. There is just a bit of news come in here and may give us a little fun in the way of fighting. A few Dutch rebels, who think they are going to rise in this place and are going to make a raid into Cape Town. Consequently we had sealed orders last night; we are quite ready for them and there is always a picquet of 200 men and four officers on duty all day and night, so even being left in this hope, we may see some fun yet. All this week we have been awfully busy, trying prisoners by court martials and I have sat on four. I spent most of my day in despatching baggage up to the front. I have seen a lot of wounded officers, they seem most of them to have been hit in the legs and arms. All the officers now carry rifles and wear the same equipment as the men, all badges are taken off, and all the sergeant's stripes etc." Lieut. T.T. Simpson (OL) Green Point Camp He was promoted to Lieutenant in August 1900. He served in South Africa from 1899 and died of dysentery at Schhoemans Kloof. Colonel James Spens, Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion King's own Shropshire Light Infantry wrote: - Johannesburg, 9th May 1901 To Dr Simpson Dear Sir It is with my gravest sympathy that I write to console you on the death of your son--which occurred at Sheerness Kloof during my absence from the Regiment. I can only say, if it can be of any consolation to you in your grief that I consider that the Regiment has lost one of its most promising young officers. He was always cheerful--ready to perform any duty that was required of him, and was deservedly popular with us all." With deepest sympathy, believe me. James Spens. Captain T.G. Forbes of the 2nd Battalion wrote:- "Dear Dr Simpson Before you receive this you will have heard by wire of the sad death of your son. He was unwell on the 21st of April, on 22nd saw the doctor and was put on the sick list. He rapidly became too weak and ill to be moved and the doctor was unable to stop the bleeding, owing to poor Simpson being unable to retain the medicine given him. On Sunday, 28th, he was reported dangerously ill, but the doctor had great hopes of pulling him through, and on the 29th another doctor passing through with a convoy saw him, and I gathered that although he was very ill there was no immediate cause for concern. On the 30th he appeared better, but he had some difficulty breathing, and in the afternoon about 4 o'clock he passed away. I may say that he had every care during his illness, and Lieutenant Harrison, R.A.M.C., took him into his own tent and sat up with him at night. I saw him every day, once or twice, and was greatly shocked to hear of his death, as I had no idea he was so near his end. I am very sorry to lose him, as he was an excellent fellow and a good subaltern--always keen and energetic at his work, and a good fellow all round. He was buried this morning, close to here, and the men of his Company are marking the grave with a wall of stones, in as permanent a manner as possible. I may say that he is heartily missed by all the officers of the Regiment, and especially by me, who knew him well as his Captain and as his friend." Yours very truly T.G. Forbes He was awarded the Queen's Medal and is commemorated on the Worthing Boer War Memorial.

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