Rayene Stewart Simpson
Encyclopedia
Rayene Stewart "Ray" Simpson VC
, DCM
(16 February 1926 – 18 October 1978) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British
and Commonwealth
armed forces.
and educated first at Carlingford Public School, Carlingford, New South Wales, and later Taree
, New South Wales.
, 41st/2nd Infantry Battalion, a militia battalion that served as a holding unit for soldiers under 19 years of age, on 15 March 1944. With this battalion he was posted to Cowra as part of the Prisoner of War camp garrison after the Cowra breakout
. He was subsequently posted to the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion.
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.
Simpson was posted to the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment in January 1954, where he was promoted to sergeant
in 1955. He served in the Malaya
with this unit for two years from October 1955. Simpson was next posted to 1st Special Air Service (SAS) 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 SAS 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 Class 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.
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 6 May 1969, in the Kon Tum Province, Vietnam
, Warrant Officer Class II 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 United States Silver Star
and Bronze Star
.
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.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, DCM
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
(16 February 1926 – 18 October 1978) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
armed forces.
Early life
Simpson was born in Chippendale, New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and educated first at Carlingford Public School, Carlingford, New South Wales, and later Taree
Taree, New South Wales
Taree is a city on the Mid North Coast, New South Wales, Australia. Taree and nearby Cundletown were settled in 1831 by William Wynter. Since then Taree has grown to a population of around 20,000 people and is the centre of a significant agricultural district. It is 16 km from the sea coast,...
, New South Wales.
Military career
Simpson joined the Second Australian Imperial ForceSecond Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
, 41st/2nd Infantry Battalion, a militia battalion that served as a holding unit for soldiers under 19 years of age, on 15 March 1944. With this battalion he was posted to Cowra as part of the Prisoner of War camp garrison after the Cowra breakout
Cowra breakout
During World War II, a prisoner of war camp near the town of Cowra in New South Wales, Australia was the site of one of the largest prison escapes of the war, on 5 August 1944. At least 545 Japanese POWs were involved in the breakout.-The camp:...
. He was subsequently posted to the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion.
Demobilized in January 1947, Simpson spent four years working in various jobs, before re-enlisting in 1951 for service in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
with the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. He was promoted to lance corporal
Lance Corporal
Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.- Etymology :The presumed...
on 30 November 1951 and again to corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
on 21 January 1953. During this period he married Shoko Sakai, a Japanese citizen, on 5 March 1952.
Simpson was posted to the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment in January 1954, where he was promoted to sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
in 1955. He served in the Malaya
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
with this unit for two years from October 1955. Simpson was next posted to 1st Special Air Service (SAS) 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
Australian Army Training Team Vietnam
The Australian Army Training Team Vietnam was a specialist unit of the Australian Army that operated during the Vietnam War. Raised in 1962, the unit was raised solely for service as part of Australia's contribution to the war in Vietnam, providing training and assistance to South Vietnamese forces...
(AATTV) who left by air for Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
in July 1962.
A year later he returned to the SAS 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 Class II
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
.
During this second tour he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
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
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
.
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.
Victoria Cross
He was 43 years old, and a Warrant Officer Class II in the Australian Army Training Team, Australian Forces during the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 6 May 1969, in the Kon Tum Province, Vietnam
Kon Tum Province
Kon Tum province lies in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam and shares borders with Laos and Cambodia. It has an area of 9,934 square km and a population of approximately 330,000. The economy is primarily agricultural.-Name:...
, Warrant Officer Class II 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
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
and Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
, Ray Simpson was also awarded the United States Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
and Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
.
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
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
, Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australia.
External links
- WOII R.S. SIMPSON, VC, DCM (biography plus detailed action account)