GEORGE Simpson, a Royal Scots veteran, based in Midlothian, who fought at Le Paradis and spent time in a POW camp in Poland, celebrates his 100th birthday on Thursday 07 May 2020.
He is unable to enjoy a family celebration because of the country’s ongoing battle to defeat the ‘invisible enemy’, COVID-19.
With VE Day 75th commemoration on Friday 08 May 2020 in mind…
George Simpson was wounded and subsequently captured during the action at Le Paradis, 40 miles south of the English Channel in May 1940, when The Royal Scots, as part of 4 Brigade, had a pivotal role to play in seeking to delay the enemy advance, to allow the evacuation from Dunkirk to happen.
Their orders were to fight to the last man. Following his capture after injury, George spent time as a prisoner of war in Poland.
* George joined The Royal Scots as a Territorial in 1937;
* Trained at Lanark before moving to the south of England;
* Sailed to France in September 1939 with 1st Battalion The Royal Scots as part of the British Expeditionary Force;
* George’s favourite pipe tune is the Black Bear (a piper from the Regimental Association Pipe Band will play this in George’s garden at 12:00 on Thursday 07 May 2020);
* George worked for 40 years in Duncan’s chocolate factory, Powderhall, Edinburgh, and subsequently for Rowntree’s when Duncan’s were bought out; and
* He has three sons, five daughters, 15 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, with no. 28 on the way.
Colonel Martin Gibson said:
“George is a marvellous man who is very proud of his family. He is very matter of fact about his time, 80 years ago, fighting for King and Country. When discussing with him his time as a Royal Scot, he said: ‘I had to do it to ensure that Britain’s freedom was preserved’.
“The Royal Scots regimental family wish him Many Happy Returns of the Day; a piper from our Regimental Association Pipe Band will play for him outside his house.”
Contacts:
Colonel Martin Gibson 07798 877073 and media contact, David Nisbet 07768 812620
Notes for editors:
Website addresses:
- Home page: http://www.theroyalscots.co.uk/
- BEF Deployment 1939: http://www.theroyalscots.co.uk/2nd-world-war-ww2/
- Le Paradis defence: http://www.theroyalscots.co.uk/le-paradis/
In 2006, The Royal Regiment of Scotland was formed from its predecessor Scottish infantry regiments; after 373 years of unbroken service, The Royal Scots left the British Army’s order of battle.
Details of the regiment’s history are available on the website: http://www.theroyalscots.co.uk/
About George Simpson:
3054745 Pte George Simpson The Royal Scots
George, tells how, in 1937, at the age of 17, at a time when there was high unemployment in Britain and unable to find any work, whatsoever, he had to sign on at the Labour Bureau (‘the Brew’) similar to the Job Centres of today.
Walking back down Cockburn Street in Edinburgh, he came across the Army Recruiting Centre. In the window, he saw what the Army was offering: clothing, accommodation, breakfast, dinner, tea, supper and pay. Tempted by this, he went in and asked if he could join. The recruiting Sgt said yes; George asked, The Royal Scots? Yes, the Sgt replied. He was given a medical, which he passed, then the Sgt asked him how old he was and told him he had to be truthful. George told him he was 17; the Sgt told him to go for a walk around the block, and when he came back he was to be 18. Thus, George found himself a soldier in The Royal Scots.
He was given a railway warrant, with instructions to get a train to Auchendinny, which George thought was miles away. In fact, it was a short train journey and he found himself walking through the gates of Glencorse Barracks, The Royal Scots Depot, in Penicuik, on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Life in the Army had begun.
After his initial training, and kitting out, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion based in Aldershot. In September 1939, the battalion was mobilised for war, life was busy with preparations, gathering equipment and supplies together.
The battalion sailed from Portsmouth on the 21 September 1939, bound for Cherbourg. On arrival, the battalion moved and eventually took up front line positions on the Franco-Belgian border. There it remained for the winter of 1939-40, one of the coldest winters for many years.
George experienced his first encounter with the enemy on his birthday, 7 May 1940, when the Germans invaded Belgium. He tells of the battalion moving to Wavre, not far from Brussels. From then one they were engaged with the enemy, suffering many losses.
The battalion having been ordered to move back towards Dunkirk, during which George says they were engaged in skirmishes all the way, took up a defensive position in La Paradis, France. There, George was wounded in the leg by shrapnel and found himself in an ambulance being taken to Dunkirk. However, a decision had been made that no wounded were to be taken to Dunkirk and he was taken to a French hospital, where he was captured and became a Prisoner of War.
George describes a journey of great hardship as he was moved from France to his eventual destination, a POW Camp in Poland. There was a lack of food, water or facilities. Boarded onto cattle trucks, with other POWs, after a week they eventually arrived at Stalag XXA 2 A (also known as 357) in Thorn Poland. He was given a POW Number 15835, and he would remain there for five years. Life in the camp was harsh, because of a lack of basic comforts and food.
The prisoners in his camp had to work. He was sent to work on the railways, loading material for the Front. As leader, George, together with his compatriots, were concerned that this material could be used against the British and their Allies, as they did not know what it was or where it was bound for. They decided to refuse do this work. George was put before the Commandant and given three-months detention.
Relief came when the Russian tanks arrived and ploughed through the wire fencing. The prisoners were handed over to the Americans, who arranged for them to be brought under the wing of the British. Arrangements were made to fly them back to Britain. After being issued with new uniforms and documentation, a special train coach was provided for them to travel to Scotland. Finally, they arrived back at Edinburgh Waverley Station.
After having some leave George, still in the Army, took up a post in the Military Training School Lanark, training new young recruits, a post he held for two years.
Army life over, George worked in Duncan’s Chocolate Factory in Edinburgh for 40 years.
A family man, George is married with three sons, five daughters, 15 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren, with number 28 is on its way!
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