More about Albert Nicol Simpson

Albert has no known grave but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.

Albert Simpson   CZ/370 Nelson Bn Royal Naval Division

DUNDEE R.N.D. MAN MISSING.

Mr and Mrs M. Simpson, 14 Cleghorn Street, Dundee, have received intimation that their son A.B. Albert Simpson, of the Royal Naval Division, is missing.

A.B. Simpson is only nineteen years of age.  He joined the Royal Naval Division early in the war, and saw service in Gallipoli.

Dundee Courier 16th December 1916

Albert N Simpson was the son of Mr Martin Simpson of 14 Cleghorn Street, Dundee and was employed as a Shop Assistant. In September 1914 he was one of the first Dundee men to volunteer to join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve onboard HMS Unicorn for service in the Royal Naval Division. After initial Naval Training at the Crystal Palace in South London he was sent to Blandford Camp in Dorset for advanced military training. On completion he was drafted to C Company of the Collingwood Battalion in March 1915 which was being formed at Blandford. The Collingwood Battalion landed in Gallipoli in late May 1915 and took part in the Third Battle of Krithia on 4 June 1915. This was their first and last action because, as they advanced towards the enemy line, they were caught in heavy Turkish artillery and machinegun fire. The number of dead and wounded was very high and the Battalion was disbanded two days later. The survivors were distributed to the other RND battalions to replace their losses. Albert Simpson survived the battle but, on 8 June, he was evacuated to the Greek Hospital in Alexandria suffering from stomach problems. He remained in Egypt until the end of July when he returned to Gallipoli onboard the SS Cawdor Castle and joined the Nelson Battalion. From the end of August to the beginning of December he was hospitalised, probably on Lemnos, with jaundice. He left Gallipoli finally in early January 1916 when the land forces were withdrawn and undertook garrison duties in the Aegean islands. In May, the Nelson Battalion sailed for Marseille onboard the troopship Ionian. After training in Army tactics the RND began to experience the war on the Western Front and was being prepared to join in the Somme battle. One of the first day’s objectives of the British attack on 1 July 1916 was the capture of the village of Beaucourt just to the west of the River Ancre. It was finally taken on 14 November by the men of the RND. This was the first major operation by the RND in France and established a reputation for being a “Can Do” Division. However, the casualty list was very long and over 30 local men were killed and countless more wounded. This was the worst ever day for Dundee’s Naval forces in the First World War. Albert Simpson was listed as missing on 13 November and a request was sent to his next of kin in mid April 1917 asking if they had received any further news because sometimes comrades, with first hand experience, wrote directly to families. In late June 1917 it was concluded that he had been killed in action on 13 November 1916 and the next of kin informed officially. Albert Simpson is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial in Northern France.