Fremantle Caledonians
WA

James Simpson

Enlistment Date
21/06/1915
Age At Enlistment
25
Rank On Enlistment
Private
Regimental No.
2705
Battalion
16th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement
Fate
KIA
Fate Date
07/08/1916
Fate Place
Somme, France
Occupation
Wire Rope Splicer
Place of Birth
Musselburgh, Scotland
Religion
Protestant
Marital Status
Single
Embarkation Details
Embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A68 Anchises on 2 September 1915

“Jamie Simpson was born in Musselburgh, Scotland and after migrating to Western Australia he was employed as a wire rope splicer in Fremantle. Jamie joined Caledonians in 1914 and his talent as a soccer player is shown by the fact that he was selected in the Scottish born team to contest against English- and Australian-born players in the mid-year ‘Internationals’ which were common to the period. With the outbreak of war he enlisted in the 16th Battalion but later was transferred to the 48th Battalion. On the 7th of August, 1916 James Simpson was killed in action as the Australians attacked Mouquet Farm in one of the bloodiest battles of the War.”
Excerpted from John Williamson’s Soccer Anzacs: The Story of the Caledonian Soccer Club.