| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Herbert Simpson was born in Beverley the 23 Jun 1893, the twin of Arthur Simpson. They were baptised at St Nicholas’ Church on 30 Jul 1893, the son of Robert Simpson and Ada, they had one sibling, Muriel Annie, born in 1897. Ada was from Hull and Robert from Market Weighton.They had one sibling, Muriel Annie, who was born in 1897. Robert was a senior clerk at County Hall for East Riding County Council and active at St Nicholas’ Church where he was a sidesman. Herbert was brought up in Grovehill Road, Beverley. Herbert worked as a clerk in a local timber merchant’s office in Beverley. Between 1909 and 1912 Herbert was in the Church Lads’ Brigade, reaching the rank of Lance-Corporal. Neville Hobson, who ran the CLB, wrote of the twins that, “He (Arthur) and his brother Herbert were two of the best lads ever enrolled”.
Herbert’s war record uncannily follows that of his twin brother. Herbert joined the 5th (Cyclist) Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment, a Territorial Force on 26 Oct 1914. In Jun 1915 he transferred to the West Riding Divisional Cyclists (the 2/7th Battalion) and rose to the rank of Sergeant. In Nov 1915 he and Arthur were given a commission and both became 2nd Lieutenants in the South Staffordshire Regiment but unlike his brother, Herbert joined the Machine Gun Corps. Herbert arrived in France on 13 Dec 1915. An article in the Hull Daily Mail about his brother on 21 Aug 1917 notes, that Herbert was serving with the South Staffs. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star and the War and Victory Medals.
Herbert returned to Beverley and worked as a timber importer’s clerk. He was married at St Nicholas’ Church on 23 Jun 1920 to Lilian May Sellers, born in Beverley. They had one child, Sheila, born 1924. They lived at 108 Norwood. Lilian died in 1945. Herbert died at Westwood Hospital on 30 May 1950. Herbert is remembered on the Grovehill Road Street Shrine with his brother Arthur who died on 18 Jan 1950.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |