Rayene Stewart Simpson
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Rayene Stewart Simpson VC, DCM (16 February 1926 - 18 October 1978) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
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[edit] Early life
Simpson was born in Chippendale, New South Wales and educated in Taree, New South Wales. He joined the second AIF 41st/2nd Infantry Battalion in 1944. He first saw service in Cowra as garrison reinforcements after the Cowra breakout
He later went on to serve in the Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Indonesian Confrontation, and then the Vietnam War.
[edit] Victoria Cross
He was 43 years old, and a Warrant Officer II in the Australian Army Training Team, Australian Forces during the Vietnam War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 6 May 1969 in the Kon Tum Province, Vietnam, Warrant Officer Class Two Simpson rescued a wounded fellow warrant Officer and carried out an unsuccessful attack on a strong enemy position. On 11 May he fought alone against heavy odds to cover the evacuation of a number of casualties.
For his actions in Vietnam, in addition to his Victoria Cross and Distinguished Conduct Medal, Ray Simpson was also awarded the US Silver Star and Bronze Star.
His Victoria Cross and a portrait are displayed at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
[edit] References
- The Last Eleven? (Mark Adkin, 1991)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
[edit] External links
- WOII R.S. SIMPSON, VC, DCM (biography plus detailed action account)
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