Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Simpkin, an engineering packer, born in the 3rd quarter of 1863 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and his wife Catherine Simpkin (nee Taylor, married in the 2nd quarter of 1888 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born 1860 in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire. Gerald Horace Austin was born in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in Holy Trinity, Loughborough, his siblings were, Edith Gertrude, born on the 6th March 1889 and Teresa Winifred C., born in the 4th quarter of 1894, both his siblings were born in Loughborough, in March 1901 the family home was at Astetts Yard, 3, Market Place, Loughborough. Gerald had an older sibling, Leonard Austin, who was born in the 4th quarter of 1890 in Loughborough and who died in the 3rd quarter of 1892 in Loughborough, aged 1.
Gerald enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 13th August 1914 in Loughborough, and was allotted the service number 2/10003. He gave his place of birth as Holy Trinity, Loughborough, Leicestershire and age as 21 years 3 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as basket maker.
His medical examination took place in Loughborough on the 12th August 1914 and recorded his apparent age as 21 years 3 months, that he was 5 feet 6¾ inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 34½ inches, his complexion was described as fresh, he had grey, normal eyes and his hair colour was dark brown. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Thos. Simpkin, mother, Catherine Simpkin, 10, Mills Yard, Loughborough. Sister, Edith G. Simpkin, Nottingham Road, Loughborough.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. Leicester. 13/8/14.
Posted. Depot. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 14/8/14.
Posted. 3rd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 21/8/14.
Posted. 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 19/3/15.
Embarked. For Expeditionary Force. Southampton. 19/3/15.
Landed. 20/3/15.
Joined. Battalion. In the Field. 22/3/15.
Admitted. 2nd London Casualty Clearing Station. Gunshot wound to head. In the Field. 24/8/15.
Died. 2nd London Casualty Clearing Station. 26/8/15.
Buried. In Merville Cemetery. 26/8/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 13/8/14 – 18/3/15. 218 days.
Expeditionary Force, France. 19/3/15 – 16/9/15. 161 days.
Total Service. 1 year 14 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Gerald’s surviving service record amounts to a total of twelve pages, of which only six pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in extremely poor condition with much of the hand written information in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of military service.
The War Diary records: 24 Aug-15 - In the same sub section of trenches. “C” Company relieved “A” Company in the front line at 8.30am and “D” Company relieved “B” Company in the front line at 2.00pm. “A” and “B” Company’s returning to sub section reserve. Our 4.5” Howitzers and field guns breached the enemy’s parapet opposite our trenches and also shelled on DISTILLERY, our machine guns co-operated at German wire. During the night our machine guns opened fire at intervals where the Germans might be repairing their parapets and wire and also indirect fire on to RUE D’ENFER. The Germans sniped by day but this slackened considerably at night only desultory Machine Gun fire being resorted to. Lieutenant Colonel WYLD 16th KINGS ROYAL RIFLE CORPS arrived to stay three days with the Battalion for instructional purposes. The Commanding Officer 6th OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY and Company Commanders of the 6th OXFORDSHIRE AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY and the 12th KING’S SHROPSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY visited the sub section prior to taking them over. Brigadier General STEWART Commanding the 58th Brigade also visited the sub section. Private BAILEY was killed and two men wounded during the last 24 hours. Two additional platoons of the 6th WILTSHIRE REGIMENT were attached in trenches for instruction.
On Monday September 20th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – The casualties reported from the Base under date Sept. 2nd, and officially published on Saturday, include the following:- KILLED. Private E. J. BAILEY (10006), 2nd Batt. Leicestershire Regiment. DIED OF WOUNDS. Private G. H. A. SIMPKIN (10003), 2nd Batt. Leicestershire Regiment.