Sydney Leverton Simpson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Sydney Leverton was the son of Joseph and Ellen Simpson (née Leverton). His father Joseph Simpson was born in Retford, Nottinghamshire, on 11 August 1877, the son of George Simpson. His mother Ellen was born in Lowdham, Nottinghamshire, on 7 June 1876, the daughter of William Leverton. Joseph (18) and Ellen (19) were married at Lowdham St Mary the Virgin on 2 August 1896 and had two sons: Sydney Leverton b. 1898 (reg. J/F/M) bap. Lowdham St Mary 7 November 1898, and Joseph b. 1899. In 1901 Joseph, a traveller, and Ellen were living at 136 Waterway Street, Nottingham, with their sons Sydney (3) and Joseph (1). By 1911 the family was living at 86 Alfred Street South, Nottingham; Joseph was a shopkeeper (house furniture and manufacturer). A notice of Sydneys' death placed by his parents in the local newspaper in 1917 said that the family had lived at 86, Alfred-street South and 44 Pierrepont-road, West Bridgford. The later CWGC record gave Joseph and Ellen's address as the Vine Hotel, Chapel St. Leonard, Lincolnshire. However, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living at 206 Radcliffe Road, West Bridgford; Joseph was a retired publican. The record of one other member of the household remains closed. Sydney married Winifred Annie Maltby in 1916 (A/M/J). Winifred (b. 18 May 1896, Trent Lock Derbyshire) was the daughter of Herbert and Emma Marion Maltby. Her father died in November 1891 and in 1911 his widow and four children, including Winifred, a threader (lace), were living at 88 Dame Agnes Street, Nottingham. Sydney and Winifred had a daughter, Joan Winifred (b. 2 October 1916). At the time of Sydney's death in 1917 his wife and daughter were living at 88 Dame Agnes Street, Nottingham.
Private Sydney L. Simpson served with the 635th Motor Transport Company, Army Service Corps. He died from malaria in hospital in East Africa on 12th November 1917 and is buried in Dar es Salaam War Cemetery, Tanzania. (grave ref. 4. D. 16). According to information on the Registers of Soldiers' Effects, Sydney died in Dar es Salaam. However, the history of the Dar es Salaam Cemetery (see below), which was created in 1968, suggests that he was not buried in the city cemetery where WW1 casualties were originally buried as these burials had not been marked individually and were reburied in collective graves. The new cemetery does, though, include graves brought in from other cemeteries in Tanzania. CWGC - History of Dar es Salaam War Cemetery (extract): 'At the outbreak of the First World War Tanzania was the core of German East Africa. From the invasion of April 1915, Commonwealth forces fought a protracted and difficult campaign against a relatively small but highly skilled German force under the command of General von Lettow-Vorbeck ... Dar es Salaam was the capital of German East Africa ... 'The Royal Navy systematically shelled the city from mid August 1916, and at 8 am on 4 September the deputy burgomaster was received aboard H.M.S. "Echo" to accept the terms of surrender. On 12 September 1916, Divisional GHQ moved to Dar es Salaam, and later No.3 East African Stationary Hospital was stationed there. The town became the chief sea base for movement of supplies and for the evacuation of the sick and wounded. 'DAR ES SALAAM WAR CEMETERY was created in 1968 when the 660 First World War graves at Dar es Salaam (Ocean Road) Cemetery had to be moved to facilitate the construction of a new road. As the burials in the former African Christian, Non-Christian and Mohammedan plots had not been marked individually, they were reburied in collective graves, each marked by a screen wall memorial ... During the early 1970s, a further 1,000 graves were brought into this site from cemeteries all over Tanzania, where maintenance could no longer be assured.' (www.cwgc org).
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Beloved son of Ellen and Joseph Simpson and father of Joan. Rest in peace' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 20 November 1917: ‘Simpson. Died in hospital, I and GEA, November 12th of malaria fever, Driver SL Simpson (Syd), in his 20th year, the dearly beloved son of Joseph and Ellen Simpson, 86, Alfred-street South and 44 Pierrepont-road, West Bridgford. From his sorrowing mother and father, and brother.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Notice published on 21st November 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “SIMPSON. - Died in hospital of malaria fever, November 12th, Driver S. L. Simpson (Syd), the beloved husband of Winnie Simpson, 88, Dame Agnes-street. - From his sorrowing wife and baby.” Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam', 21st November 1919:- “SIMPSON. – In loving memory of my dear Syd, who died in Africa November 12th, 1917. – Wife and baby Joan. “SIMPSON. – In ever-loving memory of our dear son Syd, Dvr. S. L. Simpson, M.T., A.S.C., died November 12th, 1917, in East Africa, of malaria, late of Alfred-street South and 44 Pierrepont-road, West Bridgford. A day of remembrance sad to recall. – Loving father, mother, and brother.” Above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow Winifred was his sole legatee.
