SIMPSON Hugh Edward

Hugh was born in Brisbane. When he enlisted in Brisbane he was 21 years 8 Months and a Metal Worker and single. His next of kin was named as his Father Mr T Simpson, Cross Street, Fairfield, Brisbane, Qld. His units included 11th Reinf's (A.M.C.) and 13th Field Ambulance. Hugh embarked from Australia 4th October, 1916 ex SS Masholera and joined the A.M.A.C. Unit Harve on 14th December, 1916. On 24th February 1917 he embarked from Harve on the H.S. Grantully Castle for England and was hospitalised in London with influenza. Back overseas to France 18th October 1917 Hugh had several hospitalisations 1917/1918/1919 with various illnesses influenza, bronchitis etc. He was wounded in France 14th March, 1919 and hospitalised 22nd March 1919 to 26th April, 1919. He joined the Anzac Unit on 7th April, 1915 and served on "the Peninsular". A hand written letter from Hugh dated 11th April 1967, Page 9 of 24 regarding change of address and query regarding his Anzac medal. The new address was then 101 King Arthur Terrace, Tennyson, Brisbane, Qld. Hugh embarked for Australia Ex Aeneas on 31st May, 1919 and disembarked 12th July 1919 and Discharged 5th September, 1919. Served Anzac Cove, Harve, France, Belgium, Alexandria, Inindros? (indistinct), Tel el Keiber, Marseilles. Unlike most of the other returned diggers in Beerburrum Hugh did not take up a farming lot but became the local storekeeper. At the time in Beerburrum (in my time as well) there was one other storekeeper, Jim Heenan who ran the State Stores almost opposite Hugh's shop then in Anzac Avenue a couple of doors up from the Post Office and a couple of doors down from the Bakery (Rojhan's in my time) . There was also a butcher's shop ran by Billy Pitt and the Boarding House ran by my Great Aunt would have still been operating at that time. Bert Eaton also had his Garage in Beerburrum and there was a bush nurse. Later of course Hugh moved his shop to the main road opposite the school. When Hugh enlisted he was single but as long as I knew them (in the 1930's) Hugh was married with two living daughters Esme and Beryl whom we went to school with. There was another little girl Thelma who had died and is buried in the Beerburrum cemetery. Without the Simpsons, many of the Beerburrum settlers would have not survived. Most of the settlers experienced very hard times, the ground was not suitable for pineapples and for those who stayed life was difficult indeed my Family included. Hugh always allowed my Mum to "book it up" and there were at times months when we could not pay Hugh a penny. But he never denied us the necessities as he did for most of the families. When we left Beerburrum we owed Hugh Ninety Six Pounds, a large sum in those days. It would have been more but my Mother would work for them, washing, ironing and cleaning etc to pay some of the debt. The rest, after we moved to Brisbane and my Father had a good job (aircraft engineer) my Mother sent regular payments to Hugh until the debt was paid off. Hugh told my Grandmother that ours was one of the few debts paid in full. All my life I have had great respect for Hugh Simpson. Without Hugh there were times that we may not have eaten.

• Belgium
• France
• France
• France
• Gallipoli