Leslie William (Simmie) SIMPKIN

Leslie William (Simmie) SIMPKIN Update Details

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SIMPKIN, Leslie William

Service Numbers:	899, V76978
Enlisted:	1 October 1914
Last Rank:	Lieutenant
Last Unit:	3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance
Born:	Lexton, Victoria, Australia, 24 July 1894
Home Town:	Lexton, Pyrenees, Victoria
Schooling:	Lexton Primary School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation:	Shire Secretary, Local Government
Died:	Natural Causes, Prince Henry Hospital Melbourne,Victoria, Australia , 28 June 1958, aged 63 years
Cemetery:	Cobden Cemetery
Memorials:	Lexton A.N.A. Branch 91 Pictorial Roll of Honour

World War 1 Service

1 Oct 1914:	Enlisted
2 Feb 1915:	Embarked Driver, 899, 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, HMAT Chilka, Melbourne
2 Feb 1915:	Involvement Driver, 899, 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Chilka embarkation_ship_number: A51 public_note: ''
19 Oct 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 899, 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance, ANZAC / Gallipoli
6 Dec 1916:	Transferred AIF WW1, Private, Camel Corps, Camel Transport Coy, Egypt
1 Jul 1917:	Promoted AIF WW1, Company Quartermaster Sergeant, Imperial Camel Corps , Camel Transport Coy
4 May 1919:	Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 899, Camel Corps, RTA 29 January 1919 and discharged (TPE). Camel Transport Coy.
12 May 1919:	Discharged AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 899, 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance

World War 2 Service

17 Oct 1941:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, V76978

LESLIE WILLIAM SIMPKIN

A BRIEF TRIBUTE TO LESLIE WILLIAM SIMPKIN b 1894 d 1958.

My Uncle Les Simpkin was born at Lexton about 30 miles north-west of Ballarat in Victoria. He joined the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance in August 1914 and served his country for nearly five years. He embarked on the HMAT "Chilka" from Melbourne on 2/2/1915.

Les Simpkin was an original ANZAC. He served on the Gallipoli Peninsula from October to December 1915, his unit being the last Field Ambulance to be evacuated. Throughout 1916 he remained with the Light Horse in Egypt and in 1917 he transferred to the Camel Transport Corp. For a short time he was with the Donkey Transport Company set up to overcome logistical difficulties caused by the terrible winter rains of Palestine.

He finished the war with the rank of Company Sergeant Major and returned to Australia and Lexton in March 1919. He commenced work with the Shire of Lexton and for the next 40 years he held numerous positions of Shire Secretary throughout the State, his last appointment being at Rokewood with the then Shire of Leigh.

In between the wars he was also President and Secretary of a number of RSL sub-branches including Cobden in the Western District. In 1942 Les Simpkin again joined up'. For two years he served with the rank of Lieutenant in Melbourne.

Throughout his 64 years, my uncle left an indelible mark on those who had the good fortune to know him. He was good citizen of the highest integrity. His story is one of always being prepared to help others, particularly those less well off than he was. Despite his achievements, Les Simpkin was a modest, kind and unassuming man. Each ANZAC Day I think of this man who has a special place in our family's history.

Ian John Simpkin 39 ST ANDREWS PLACE, LAKE GARDENS VICTORIA 3355

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