Rayene Stewart Simpson
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| Ray Simpson | |
|---|---|
| 16 February 1926–18 October 1978 | |
| Place of birth | Chippendale, New South Wales |
| Place of death | Tokyo, Japan |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/branch | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1944–1947 1951–1966 1967–1970 |
| Rank | Warrant Officer Class II |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Distinguished Conduct Medal |
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.
[edit] Military career
Simpson joined the Second Australian Imperial Force, 2/41st Infantry Battalion, on 15 March 1944. He first saw service in Cowra as garrison reinforcements after the Cowra breakout.
Demobilized in January 1947, Simpson spent four years working in various jobs, before re-enlisting in 1951 for service in the Korean War with the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 30 November 1951 and again to Corporal on 21 January 1953. During this period he married Shoko Sakai, a Japanese citizen, on 5 March 1952.
He was posted to the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment in January 1954, where he was promoted to Sergeant in 1955. He served in Malaya with this unit for two years from October 1955. Simpson was next posted to 1st Special Air Service Company in November 1957 and served with that unit until selected as one of the initial group of advisers for the Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam (AATTV) who left by air for Vietnam in July 1962.
A year later he returned to the Special Air Service unit in Australia for twelve month's service before his second tour of duty with AATTV in Vietnam commenced in July 1964, where he was promoted to Warrant Officer II. During this second tour he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions when a patrol was ambushed at Tako on 16 September. Simpson, although severely wounded in the leg, held off the enemy while he called for assistance by radio. He and his men repelled several enemy assaults until help arrived, and none too soon as their ammunition had almost gone and Simpson was weak from loss of blood. He was evacuated by helicopter to the 6th Field Hospital at Nha Trang and he later convalesced at Tokyo.
On 16 May 1966 Simpson left the army for a second time, but re-enlisted in Saigon a year later for his third period of service with the AATTV, where he performed the actions for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
[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.
[edit] Later life
Simpson took his final discharge from the army in May 1970. In 1972 he took up a position as administrative officer at the Australian Embassy, Tokyo.
Rayene Stewart Simpson died of cancer in Tokyo on 18 October 1978 and was buried at the Yokohama war cemetery, Japan.
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)
