SIMPSON, Rayene Stewart
| Service Numbers: | NX203334, 217622, 24492 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 February 1944 |
| Last Rank: | Warrant Officer Class 2 |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 16 February 1926 |
| Home Town: | Chippendale, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Dumaresq Island Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Natural causes (cancer), Tokyo, Japan, 18 October 1978, aged 52 years |
| Cemetery: |
Yokohama War Cemetery Post War, Plot A, Row B, Grave 14 |
| Memorials: | Campbell Warrant Officer Ray Simpson V.C. Memorial Park, Keith Payne VC Memorial Park, North Bondi War Memorial, Seymour Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk, Taree VC Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 29 Feb 1944: | Enlisted Private, NX203334, 41/2 (amalgamated) Infantry Battalion AMF | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Feb 1944: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, 217622, 2nd/3rd Pioneer Battalion | |
| 9 Jan 1947: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, 217622, 2nd/3rd Pioneer Battalion | |
| 9 Jan 1947: | Discharged Private, NX203334, 2nd/3rd Pioneer Battalion |
Korean War Service
| 9 Jul 1951: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 24492 | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 1951: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 24492, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) | |
| 24 Jan 1953: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 24492 | |
| 24 Jan 1953: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 24492, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) |
Vietnam War Service
| 3 Aug 1962: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Warrant Officer Class 2, 217622, Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Aug 1962: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Warrant Officer Class 2, 217622 | |
| 13 Jul 1964: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Warrant Officer Class 2, 217622, Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) | |
| 31 Jul 1964: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Warrant Officer Class 2, 217622 | |
| 2 May 1967: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Warrant Officer Class 2, 217622 | |
| 2 May 1967: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Warrant Officer Class 2, 217622, Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Kearney
Simpson, Rayene Stewart (1926–1978)
by Brian Kelly
Rayene Stewart Simpson, soldier, was born on 16 February 1926 at Redfern, Sydney, third child of New South Wales-born parents Robert William Simpson, labourer, and his wife Olga Maude, née Montgomery. Olga deserted her husband and children about 1931. Ray was separated from his siblings and placed in the Church of England Home for Boys, Carlingford. Educated at a local school and at Dumaresq Island Public School, Taree, he worked as a labourer.
On 15 March 1944 Simpson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. He served on Morotai, and at Tarakan, Borneo, and Rabaul, New Guinea, and was demobilized on 20 January 1947 in Sydney. After taking various jobs, he joined the Australian Regular Army in January 1951. Five months later he was sent to Korea as a reinforcement for the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. On 16 January 1953 at Kure, Japan, he married Shoko Sakai, a divorcee. Next month he was promoted temporary sergeant. Returning to Australia in April 1954, he served with the 2nd Battalion, R.A.R., in Malaya (1955-57), then with the 1st Special Air Service Company, near Perth. In July 1962, promoted warrant officer, class two, he flew to Saigon for duty with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam.
Home again from July 1963, Simpson left for a second tour with the A.A.T.T.V. twelve months later. Based at Tako, he accompanied South Vietnamese patrols in the country's north-west. On 16 September 1964 his patrol was ambushed by soldiers of the People's Liberation Armed Forces (Viet Cong). Although severely wounded in the right leg, he rallied his men and led them in repelling repeated assaults until help arrived. For this action he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After recovering in a military hospital in Tokyo, he came back to Australia in June 1965. He was posted to the 1st Commando Regiment, Sydney, in January 1966, but was discharged from the army (at his own request) in May. Deciding to rejoin the A.R.A., he made his way to Saigon where, in May 1967, he enlisted and was reappointed to the A.A.T.T.V.
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https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/simpson-rayene-stewart-11699 (adb.anu.edu.au)
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