Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Simpson, a granite quarry worker, born 1847 in Attleborough, Warwickshire and his wife Eliza Simpson (nee Holland, married in the 3rd quarter of 1872 in the Hinckley, Leicestershire district), born 1852 in Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire. Joseph Edward, a schoolboy was born in the 4th quarter of 1884 in Stoney Stanton and was baptised on the 30th November 1884 in the parish church, Stoney Stanton, his siblings were, David Edward, a granite quarry worker, born 1870, Mary, a Griswold knitter, born 1873 and baptised on the 12th October 1873 in the parish church, Stoney Stanton and Thomas, a granite quarry worker, born 1876 and baptised on the 30th January 1876 in the parish church, Stoney Stanton, the latter three siblings were all born in Stoney Stanton, Ruth Maria, a Griswold knitter, born 1878 and baptised on the 3rd March 1878 in the parish church, Stoney Stanton and Selina Jane, a schoolgirl, born 1880 and baptised on the 10th October 1880 in the parish church, Markfield, the latter two siblings were both born in Markfield, Leicestershire, Beatrice, a schoolgirl, born 1882 and baptised on the 30th July 1882 in the parish church, Stoney Stanton, Maria Holland, a schoolgirl, born 1887 and baptised on the 20th February 1887 in the parish church, Stoney Stanton, Jane, born 1889 and baptised on the 20th January 1889 in the parish church, Stoney Stanton and Amanda, born 6th November 1890 and baptised on the 21st December 1890 in the parish church, Stoney Stanton, the latter four siblings were all born in Stoney Stanton, in April 1891 the family home was at Simpson Cottage, Huncote Road, Stoney Stanton. In March 1901 Joseph was employed as a kerb dresser and was residing in the family home at Gartmore Road, Stoney Stanton, together with his father a granite sett maker, his mother and siblings, Thomas, a kerb dresser, Beatrice, a hosiery trade worker, Maria, a hosiery trade worker, Jane, Amanda and John Arthur, born 13th March 1894 and baptised on the 15th April 1894 in the parish church, Stoney Stanton in Stoney Stanton, also residing with the family was Joseph’s cousin, Maggie Holland, born 1895 in Sapcote, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Joseph was absent from the family home at Highfield Street, Stoney Stanton, residing there was his father a quarry trade worker, his mother and siblings, Jane, a hosiery trade worker, Amanda, a hosiery trade worker and John, a farm labourer. Joseph married Annie Jane Young on the 4th January 1912 in the Blaby Registry Office, Leicestershire, the officiant was Mr. A. Collier, Registrar, Annie was born on the 21st March 1891 in Enderby, Leicestershire and was the daughter of Joseph E. and Mary Young, of Enderby, They had two children, Selina Jane, born on the 21st March 1912 and baptised on the 21st April 1912 in the parish church, Enderby and Joseph Edward, born on the 18th March 1914 and baptised on the 18th October 1914 in the parish church, Stoney Stanton, both children were born in the Blaby, Leicestershire district. The family resided at Chapel Street, Enderby. In the 3rd quarter of 1924, Joseph’s widow married John S. Phillips in the Blaby, Leicestershire district. In 1939 Annie was residing in the family home at The Limes, Leicester Road, Enderby, together with her husband John, a hosiery trade knitter, born 25th October 1893 and their son, Norman, a schoolboy, born 10th August 1927.
Joseph attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 3 years with the Colours and 9 years in the Reserve on the 10th November 1902 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire and his age as 18 years. He gave his trade or calling as stone mason, and stated that he was unmarried. He gave his father, Joseph Simpson and mother Eliza Simpson of Highfield Street, Stoney Stanton, his elder brother James Simpson of -?-, Leicestershire, his younger brother Arthur Simpson of Highfield Street, Stoney Stanton, and his sisters Mary, Ruth, Selina, Beatrice and Maria as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 8 inches in height, weighed 122 pounds, and he had a chest measurement of between 34 and 36 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had blue eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army Service. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 6531 on the 10/11/02. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 21/3/03. Granted Messing Allowance on the 10/11/03. Transferred to the “A” Reserve on the 2/2/05. Mobilized on the 5/8/14. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 5/8/14. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 7/9/14. Killed in action on the 25/10/14. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 10/11/02 – 7/9/14, 11 years 302 days. British Expeditionary Force France, 8/9/14 – 25/10/14, 48 days. Total service 11 years 350 days. Joseph was awarded the 1914 Star, British War and Victory medals. Joseph’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 25 Oct-14 - The Battalion relieved the West Yorkshire Regiment on the 21st October at the Chemical Factory at Rue du Bois, the Germans had attempted to rush the trenches at dawn, but were beaten back with great loss, shelled intermittently all day. 2 Platoon of “D” Company were driven out by enfilade fire at about 9.00am, but retrieved the position by dusk, ordered to retire during night. Trench line was reinforced by 1 Company East Yorkshire Regiment and 2 Platoons of the Rifle Brigade during the day. “A” Company’s line was not seriously attacked. Casualties two Officers wounded, twenty two Other Ranks killed, sixty eight wounded and ninety eight missing.
On Saturday November 28th 1914 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – ENDERBY’S ROLL OF HONOUR. Although Enderby is not yet by any means exhausted its resources as far as recruits are concerned, it has set a good example for some 60 of its men are serving with the colours. Two have given their lives, three have been wounded, and one is a prisoner at Gustrom, Mecklenberg. Geo. Wm. Jayes, who was on the Good Hope, when it sank, was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Jayes, of John Street, Enderby and leaves a widow and two children. He had served his full period in the Navy, and three years in the Naval Reserve. He was at the taking of the Takn forts during the Boxer rising and was wounded in the knee in the subsequent march to Tientsin. He left home for the annual manoeuvres, and never returned. Private Joseph Simpson, a Reservist of the 1st Leicester’s, fills a grave on foreign soil. He also leaves a widow and two children, residing at Enderby. Quartermaster Sergeant Neal and Private F. Timson (both 1st Leicester’s), Private and P. C. William Page of the 2nd Worcester’s, are wounded, and Private Fred Handley, of the 1st Kings Royal Rifles, is a prisoner at Gustrom, Mecklenberg. In a letter to his wife he says he is being well treated, although of course he has lost all the things which had been sent him by his friends.
On Saturday January 9th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LOSSES IN THE LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.” – The following casualties in the Leicestershire Regiment are announced. – KILLED. Private J. Simpson.