Henry (or Harry, as he was sometimes known) was born on 3 May 1888 at 40 Pitt Street, Burslem, Staffordshire. His parents were Henry Simpson, a Potter's Packer who was baptised in Tunstall on 23 December 1850, and Mary (née Hassall), who was born around 1852 in Burslem. Henry and Mary were married on 21 April 1872 at St Matthew's Church, Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent.

The 1881 census shows parents Henry and Mary Simpson lived at 9 Regent Street, Burslem. Henry worked as a Potter's Packer. Their children were Emma, aged 9; Sarah Ann, aged 5; William, aged 2; and Arthur, aged 4 months.

By 1891, Henry, still working as a potter's packer, and his wife, Mary, lived at 40 Pitt Street, Burslem, with their growing family. Emma, aged 18, worked as a Potter's Transferrer, and Sarah Ann, aged 15, was also a Potter's Transferrer. William, aged 12, was an Apprentice Potter's Packer. Arthur, aged 10, Joseph, aged 8, and Herbert, aged 6, were all at school. The youngest children were Henry, aged 2, and Mary E., aged 1.

In 1901, Henry, now aged 50, was still working as a Potter's Packer. He and Mary still lived at 40 Pitt Street, Burslem. Living with them were William, aged 22, working as a Traveling Sweet Salesman; Joseph, aged 17, working as a Potter's Hollowware Presser; Herbert, aged 15, working as a Potter's Handle maker; young Henry, aged 12; and Mary, aged 11.

By 1911, Henry was still employed as a Potter's Packer. He and Mary had moved to 20 Clewes Street, Burslem, and lived with three of their grown children. Herbert, aged 24 and single, worked as a Potter's Dipper. Harry, aged 22 and married for two years, worked as a factory labourer. Their youngest daughter, Mary Ellen, aged 21 and single, worked as a Potter's Warehousewoman.

It is unclear who Harry (Henry) was married to or where his wife was living before 1908. Assuming he married in the final quarter of 1908, he may have married either Fanny Dawson or Elizabeth Florence Flynn.

The 1911 census shows that Henry and Mary had been married for 38 years and had 11 live births, with 8 children still living and 3 who had died by this point. Their children were: John Wesley Simpson: Born 1872; died 1872. Emma Simpson: Born 1873 in Burslem; worked as a Potter's Transferer. Sarah Ann Simpson: Born 1875 in Burslem; worked as a Potter's Transferer. 

William Simpson: Born 25th June 1878 in Burslem; worked as a Confectionery Sales Dealer. He married Edith Wood in 1904. They had three children: John Wilfrid (c. 1905), Edith (c. 1908), and Arthur (c. 1913). 

Arthur Simpson: Born 3rd November 1880 in Burslem; married Florence May Walters in 1900. They had two children, Harold (c. 1903) and Arthur J. H. (c. 1910). Because both children were born in Wolstanton, it indicates Arthur and his family emigrated to Canada after 1910 and before 19th April 1916. On that date, Arthur enlisted and served with the 72nd Battalion (Seaforth Highlanders) of the Canadian Expeditionary Force as Private 826415. Arthur went to France in July 1917, but in November 1917, he sustained injuries, notably a concussion of the spine. He was paralysed for three months and suffered from a chronic laryngeal condition, for which he was treated in a Birmingham hospital. He was discharged from the army in 1919, with his estimated percentage of disability at 20%. Interestingly, he has a veteran's headstone in Victoria, Canada, having died on 7th August 1949.

Joseph Simpson: Born 6th June 1883 in Burslem; worked as a Potter's Presser. He married Florence Davies in 1907. Children: Joseph, Annie, Herbert, Mary, and Frank. 

Herbert (Wesley) Simpson: Born 7th November 1885 in Burslem; married Annie Dale in 1914. Children: Frank (1915), Emily (1917), Herbert H. (1918; died 1919), Annie (1919), and Herbert (1920). He worked as a Potter's Dipper. He also served in the war as Private 203435 in the 2/6th North Staffordshire Regiment. He was captured on 21st March 1917 at Bullecourt and was held as a prisoner of war in Dunain, France. He was classed as unwounded (Unverwundet). He survived and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Mary Ellen Simpson: Born in 1889 in Burslem.

Scant information survives to tell 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 1914, a claim supported by his inclusion on the Burslem Royal Doulton roll of those who served. He enlisted with The Royal Fusiliers and was allocated service number G/10226 (the "G" denoting general service). He first entered a theatre of war on 25th August 1915 in the Balkans, where he remained until 1st April 1916. Although his battalion had taken part in actions at Gallipoli since April 1915, Henry was a later arrival, landing on 2nd August 1915. He and his battalion were removed from Gallipoli on the 7th/8th January 1916. They remained in Egypt until March before being sent to France, arriving in late March 1916. According to the official medal rolls, Henry was attached to the Royal West Surrey Regiment from 1st June 1916, though it is unknown in what capacity. It is most likely that it was with the West Surreys that he was killed on 3rd May 1917. This date was the first day of the 2nd Battle of the Scarpe, near Arras. Both the 6th and 7th Battalions of the Royal West Surrey Regiment went into the attack on this day.

Henry was killed in action on 3rd May 1917 and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial (Panel, Bay 3). 

He is also remembered on the Burslem Royal Doulton Memorial. 

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

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

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

The 1921 census shows parents Henry and Mary living at 16 Garden Street, Burslem. Henry was now aged 71 years and 1 month, and a retired potter's packer. Mary was aged 69 years and 1 month.

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