Lives of the First World War

James in his uniform. Possibly with a bit of his younger brother, Johnny, in the bottom left corner

1911 census entry for 30, Grimshaw Lane, Middleton Junction, Lancs

James enlisted in St. Peter's Square, Manchester, aged 18 years and 3 months.

James enlisted here, aged 18 years

James sent this with his letter home, annotating the picture with where he saw the Zeppelin that night.

The original of this picture was put on an official Post Card. The back of the card said that the picture had been taken at T. H. Everitt Studios, Crystal Palace, 63 Anerley Road, Upper Norwood. RNVR stood for Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, so the picture was obviously taken sometime during his training at Crystal Palace, between 25 July - 9 November 1916.

James is on the left in this picture. We don't know the names of the other two sailors. Again, it was printed on an official Post Card. The back records that the Studios were at 250 Commercial Road, Portsmouth. He was in Portsmouth in January 1917, just before joining The Lady Olive,so we think the picture would probably have been taken in the spring of 1917. From his dairy and letters, the two crewmen that he appears to have been closest to are Oliver Haigh and William White. Oliver Haigh, was an Able Seaman, aged 25. He was the son of Wilfred and Elizabeth Ann Haigh, who lived at Milnsbridge, Huddersfield. Haigh was married to Nellie and they lived at 105, Spring Place, Manchester Road, Milnsbridge, Huddersfield. His name is on the Naval Memorial, on Plymouth Hoe. William Ezra White was an Ordinary Seaman.He was aged 29 and came from London and was married to Grace and they lived at 8 Swinburne Road, Abingdon, Berkshire. He is commemorated on the RN memorial at Chatham.

Birth Certificate

Monday 19 02 1917: In my bunk about 6.30 am when a shot was fired over us by a submarine astern several miles. She fired on us three or four times after but shots went over us. I was ordered to leave ship in boat. All was then made ready and she came up on our beam travelling with periscope on top only at a great speed. She came up when about 30 yds from ship on port side. We were on starboard side in boats. She fired two shots, one plugged us in engine room and the other passed over us. Then she got the greatest surprise and down went ports and she got a salvoe into her. Chap in conning tower blown to bits, also man on gun. Conning Tower almost blown to bits. She then sunk being holed in four or five places. It was a great sight but our ship was badly hit in engine room and was filling rapidly. We then abandoned ship and took to water in open boats and rafts. We left her at 8 am on Monday morning. 20 02 1917: All day in open boats taking turns on the raft knee deep in

Letter from the Admiralty, dated 29 March 1918, informing James's parents that James's vessel Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary "Lady Cory-Wright" had been sunk on 26th March 1918, and there had been one only survivor.

This the letter that finally explained to his family, how he had died. 125 Goldhurst Terrace Hampstead London NW6 23rd June 1918 Dear Mrs Simpson Your kind and sympathetic letter dated 14th May last was only received by me yesterday and I hasten to reply. My dear wife and myself only heard from the Admiralty on the 26th April that HMM7a Lady Cory Wright had been sunk on 26 March with only one survivor, Leading Stoker McMichael. I called at the Admiralty I was told that the vessel was torpedoed off Lands End and that the reason I had not heard before was in the hope that might be more survivors. I was promised Leading Stoker Mc Michael’s address which I received the following day at RN Barracks, Portsmouth. I wrote to him for further news and waited a fortnight. Not hearing, I wrote to the Commander at the barracks and some days after received an address of his 40 Louise Street, Belfast, Ireland, so again wrote him. Our letters evidently crossed for I received a letter from him t

List of Casualties from The Lady Cory-Wright, torpedoed 14 miles SSW off Lizard Point, Cornwall by UC -17

James's medals from WW1

James Simpson's name on the Plymouth Royal Navy memorial, Plymouth Hoe

This picture was always hung on the wall in his sister's (Ellen Grose) house. Ellen was very proud of him.

James had a camera with him and had taken many pictures

James onm board The Lady Cory-Wright

We think that this is an image of The Lady Cory-Wright, built in 1906. it was 94.5m long x 13.4m x 6.1m. It had a crew of 40, commanded by Capt Daniel Richardson. It was torpedoed on 26 March 1918 by UC-17, 14 miles SSW of Lizard Point, Cornwall. There was just one survivor.

The obituaries of those killed during the First World War were listed in the Middleton Guardian under the title ‘Middleton’s Brave Sons’. Then in 1919 the newspaper published a collection of these under same title. James Simpson appears in this book on page 150.

Church and Memorial stone listing members of the congregation killed during the First World War