Henry or Harry as he is sometimes known was born in Burslem, Staffordshire in the second quarter of 1888 to parents Henry Simpson (baptised in Tunstall December 23rd 1850) and Mary (Nee Hassall) born 1852 in Burslem. Henry and Mary were married on 21st April 1872 at St Matthews Church, Etruria Stoke on Trent.  

In the census of 1881 Henry was working as a Potters Packer living with wife Maryat 9 Regent Street, Burslem. They had children, Emma aged 9,Sarah Ann aged 5, William aged 2 and Arthur aged 4 months. 

In the census of 1891 Henry was still working as a Potters Packer living with wife Mary at 40 Pitt Street Burslem with growing children Emma aged 18, working as Potters Transferrer, Sarah Ann aged 15 also a Potters Transferrer, William aged 12 an Apprentice Potters Packer, Arthur aged 10 at school, Joseph aged 8 at school, Herbert aged 6 at school, Henry aged 2 and Mary.E, aged 1.    

In the census of 1901 Henry now aged 50 and is still working as a Potters Packer. He and wife Mary still live at 40 Pitt Street Burslem. Living with them is William aged 22, working as Traveller Sweets Sales person, Joseph aged 17, working as a Potters Hollow Presser, Herbert aged 15 working as a Potters Handle Maker, young Henry aged 12 and Mary aged 11 both at school.  

In1911 father Henry is still working as a Potters Packer with wife Mary now living at 20 Clewes Street Burslem with grown children, Herbert aged 24, single, working as Potters Dipper, Harry aged 22 married for 2 years working as a Labourer in factory and 21 year old youngest child Mary Ellen, single, working as a Potters Warehouse Woman.  

It isn't clear who Harry was married to or where she was living, assuming he married in the final quarter of 1908 potentially he may have married either Fanny Dawson or Elizabeth Florence Flynn, records of Elizabeth Florence implied she married A. F. Machin and their are no records of Fanny Dawson to be found. The 1911 census shows that Henry and Mary had been married for 38 years and had 11 live births,8 children still living and 3 that had died by this point. 

Their first child John Wesley Simpson born 1872 Died 1872 

Emma Simpson born 1873 - Burslem, worked as Potters Transferrer.

Sarah Ann Simpson born 1875 - Burslem, worked as Potters Transferrer 

William Simpson born  25th June 1878 - Burslem, worked as a Confectionery Sales dealer married to Edith nee Wood in 1904  they had children, John Wilfrid (c1905),Edith (c1908), Arthur (1913).  

Arthur Simpson born November 3rd 1880 - Burslem, he married Florence May Walters in 1900.They had two children, Harold (c1903) and Arthur J. H. (c1910). Both children were born in Wolstanton, therefore it is suggested that Arthur and his family emigrated to Canada after 1910 and before 19th April 1916 when Arthur enlisted and served with the 72nd Battalion (Seaforth Highlanders) Canadian Expeditionary Force as Private 826415. 

Arthur went to France in July1917 but in November 1917 he sustained injuries, notably concussion of the spine, he was paralysed for three months, and had a chronic laryngeal condition for which he was treated in hospital in Birmingham UK. He was discharged from the army in 1919, his estimated percentage of disability being 20%. Interestingly he has a veterans headstone in Victoria, Canada having died 7th August 1949. He was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.  

Joseph Simpson born 6th June 1883, Burslem, worked as a Potters Presser married Florence nee Davies in 1907 thye had children,Joseph, Annie,Herbert, Mary and Frank. 

Herbert (Wesley) Simpson born 7th November 1885, Burslem married Annie Dale in 1914 they had children Frank born 1915. Emily born 1917, Herbert. H. born in 1918 but died in 1919,  Annie born 1919 and Herbert born in1920. Herbert worked as a Potters Dipper. He too was in the war as Private 203435 2/6th North Staffordshire Regiment, he was captured on 21st March 1917 at Bullecourt and was a prisoner of war in Dunain, France.He was classed as unwounded (Unverwundet). He survived and was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. 

Mary Ellen Simpson born 1889 -Burslem. 

The 1921 census shows parents Henry and Mary living at 16 Garden St, Burslem,Henry now aged 71 years 1 month retired Potters Packer and Mary aged 69 years 1 month.   

Scant information survives to tell us the story of Henry’s military career, but from various sources we can piece together the following; It is said that he joined the Army in December of 1914, this is supported by his inclusion on the Burslem Royal Doulton Roll of those who served 1914. 

He was enlisted with The Royal Fusiliers and allocated service number G/10226, G denoting general service. He first entered a theatre of war on the 25th August 1915 in the Balkans. This is where he remained until 1st April 1916. They had since April 1915 taken part in actions at Gallipoli but we see Henry was a later arrival on the 2nd August 1915. He along with his battalion were removed from Gallipoli during the 7th/8th January 1916. Remaining in Egypt until March before being sent to France arriving late March 1916. According to the official medal rolls Henry was attached to the Royal West Surrey Regiment from the 1st June 1916 but we do not know in what capacity. So it is most likely that it was with the West Surreys that he was killed on the 3rd May 1917. This date was the first day of the 2nd Battle of the Scarpe, near Arras. Both the 6th and 7th Battalions Royal West Surrey Regiment went into the attack on this day.

Henry was killed in action on the 3rd May 1917 and is remembered on the Arras Memorial Panel Bay 3. He is also remembered on the Burslem Royal Doulton Memorial

WW1 pension cards reveal his mother is recorded as his next of kin living at 16 Garden Street, Burslem. She was awarded a dependants pension of 10 shillings per week payable from the 1st January 1918.

He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal

The Staffordshire Sentinel of the 7th June 1917 carries a report of his death and confirms he worked for Royal Doulton prior to military service and that 2 of Henry’s brothers were also serving ( Herbert and Arthur). 

SOURCES

Marriage Henry and Mary Hasall : Indexes created from Anglican Parish Registers held at Staffordshire Record Office; Stafford, Staffordshire, England. 

1881 census : Class: RG11; Piece: 2715; Folio: 106; Page: 3; GSU roll: 1341651

1891 The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 2164; Folio: 90; Page: 12; GSU roll: 6097274

1901 census Ancestry UK  

1911 census Ancestry UK 

1921 census Ancestry UK 

1939 register Ancestry UK 

WW1 Medal Rolls Ancestry. UK 

WW1 Medal index cards Ancestry. UK 

WW1 Pension card Ancestry.UK 

Private Harry Simpson | War Casualty Details 1653057 | CWGC 

LONG LONG TRAIL 

CANADA.CA WW1 RECORDS - Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8919 - 70

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19170607/075/0003