Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of widower George Simpkins, a nurseryman, born 1844 in Braybrooke, Northants., and his late wife Martha Simpkins (nee Plowright, married in the 2nd quarter of 1871 in the Market Harborough, Leics. district.), born in the 4th quarter of 1845 in Northants. Thomas Charles Simpkins was born in the 2nd quarter of 1879 in Little Bowden, Northants., his siblings were Henry Plowright, an errand boy, born 1867 in Leic., he was a half blood sibling, George, a schoolboy, born 1871, in Leics., Elizabeth A., a schoolgirl, born 1874 and Martha Ellen, a schoolgirl, born 1877, the latter two siblings were both born in Northamptonshire. In April 1881 the family home was at Queen Street, Little Bowden, Northants., Thomas at this time was residing at Great Bowden, Leics. Thomas’s mother died in the 1st quarter of 1880 aged 36, in the Market Harborough, Leics. district. In April 1891 Thomas was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Queen Street, Little Bowden, Northants., together with his widowed father, a general labourer and his sister, Martha, a factory worker. In March 1901 Thomas was employed as a general labourer and was residing in the family home at 5, Queen Street, Little Bowden, Northants., together with his widowed father, a general labourer and his siblings, Elizabeth and Ellen, a corset trade worker, also residing with the family was his nephew Frederick Simpkins, born 1897 in Little Bowden, Northants. In April 1911 Thomas was employed as a general labourer and was residing at 4, Queen Street, Little Bowden, Northants, together with his wife, Annie Simpkins (nee Church, married on the 1st February 1908 in the Market Harborough,Leics. district), born 1885 in Arthingworth, Northants., and their daughter Elizabeth, born 5th May 1909 in Little Bowden, Northants. Their son Frederick was born on the 29th April 1912. Thomas attested into the Army to serve for the duration of the war on the 22nd November 1915, his reckonable service to commence when he was mobilised on the 25th August 1916, and he was allocated the service number 32196 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private on the 25/8/16. Posted to the 3rd Battalion on the 29/8/16. Posted to 12th I.B.D. BEF, France on the 23/1/17. Posted 1st Battalion, 24/1/17. Posted 11th Battalion, 17/2/17. Posted 8th Battalion, 26/10/17. Admitted 113th Field Ambulance suffering from boil on knee, 15/12/17. Admitted 63rd Field Ambulance, 15/12/17. Rejoined Battalion, 18/12/17. On leave from, 2/2/18 – 17/2/18. Reported missing, 27/5/18. Prisoner of War, 27/5/18. Posted 7th Battalion, 24/9/18. Posted Depot as a repatriated Prisoner of War, 8/12/18. Posted 3rd Battalion, 13/2/19. Transferred to Class Z Reserve on demobilization, 20/4/19. Thomas contracted septicemia and infective endocarditis on the 15th January 1920 and died on the 29th February 1920.