Ray Simpson (1889-1921)

Harold Ray Simpson (1889-1921) was the son of Hugh Simpson and Helen Thornton and the grandson of George Kidd Simpson.  He was born in Myrtle, Ontario ( his father was a teacher in nearby Whitby) and moved to Saskatchewan with his family in 1901.  He married Kate Bridger (1881-) in August or September of 1917, while he was in Military service during WW I.   Ray and Kate returned to Canada in 1919 and went on to Saskatchewan.  However, he then appears to have spent two years working in a logging camp in Algonquin Park, Ontario.  (Part of the McLachlin empire headquartered in Arnprior, ON.)  Ray died in Montreal on August 3, 1921 but we are not clear about the circumstances of his death.  A brief obituary reports he died of a sudden illness.   Kate Simpson returned to Regina and appears for the first time in 1921-22 directory.  In 1923 she is listed as the widow of Harold Simpson and after moving a few times disappears from the directory in 1931-32.  Did she remarry?  Return to England?  The couple do not return to Canada with children and given her age it is unlikely there were any children.

Ray’s military service was memorable.  He enlisted 1915 and served two years in France as part of what became known as the Suicide Battalion, a group that suffered many deaths and casualties. [See the 1978 book of the same title by McWilliams].  Ray was quite badly injured in late September 1918, preparing for the Battle of Cambrai,  but his military records indicated that he was fit to return to service by the end of the war.  He received the British Military Cross in March, 1918 for his actions at Vimy Ridge as well as the Belgian Military Decoration in August of 1917 for his gallantry.  His service was dotted with promotions and demotions but at the end of the war he was a lieutenant, a commissioned officer, and facing court martial for leaving his post briefly in June 1919.   The court martial records are of interest as they make statements about Ray’s character.   First, they claim he was of exemplary character “until” arriving in England.  This suggests that they saw a change in his behavour.  Second, they report that he had a “great deal of family trouble”.   Again, this suggests a change in behaviour perhaps, leading one to wonder if he wasn’t suffering from what we now call post traumatic stress disorder.  This may be related to his untimely death.

His name appears on the war memorial in Orono, Ontario.  Ray was buried in Orono, Ontario on August 9, 1921.

Thanks to librarians who helped me track down some of this information.

Below: Ray on his way to war, 1915.

Ray Simpson on left.  Taken in France in 1918, just prior to his injury.

Ray’s grave (and brother Percy) in Orono, ON.  Note: the line “he gave his life for his country” suggests the family saw his death as linked to his war service.

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