Lance Corporal John Simpson

John Simpson, son of Ben and Margaret Simpson, of Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire, enlisted into The Border Regiment, and volunteered for airborne forces.

Lance Corporal Simpson successfully completed parachute training on course 91 at RAF Ringway from 11 to 26 November 1943. His course report stated ‘Good trained man, good performer’. He was posted to Headquarters Company, 13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion.

He fought in the Normandy campaign and took part in the 6th Airborne Division response to the German counter-offensive in the Ardennes, during Winter 1944-5.

L/Cpl Simpson was killed in action on 3 January 1945, aged 22, and was buried in Bure, Tellin, (Belgium) temporary burial ground. He was later reinterred in Hotton War Cemetery on 21 May 1947.

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