John Simpson
Quartermaster-Sergeant, 42nd Regiment
- Register No.
- 1145 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Quartermaster-Sergeant (register: Quartermaster Sergeant) all Quartermaster-Sergeants →
- Unit
- 42nd Regiment (register: 42nd Regiment of Foot) all 42nd Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 15 April 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- the 27th May, 1859 on this day → all of 1859 →
- Born
- 29th January 1826 at Edinburgh
- Died
- 27th October, 1883 at St Martin's, Perth, Scotland
- Memorial / grave
- at Balbeggie Churchyard, St Martin's, Perth, Scotland
- Medal held by
- the County Museum of Natural History,
Digest of citation
On 15th April 1858, during the attack on the Fort at Ruyha, Quartermaster-Sergeant Simpson volunteered to go to exposed point within 40 yards of the fort's Parapet, all the time under heavy fire, to rescue two severely wounded soldiers. The first one, Lieutenant Douglas was brought in and then Sergeant Simpson returned to bring in another, a private soldier
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SIMPSON, John. (reg No. 1145).
Quartermaster-Sergeant. 42nd Regiment. * London Gazetted on the 27th May, 1859.
VC Medal's Custodian is the County Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles, California.
Born on 29th January 1826 at Edinburgh.
Died on 27th October, 1883 at St Martin's, Perth, Scotland.
Memorial on grave at Balbeggie Churchyard, St Martin's, Perth, Scotland.
Digest of Citation reads: On 15th April 1858, during the attack on the Fort at Ruyha, Quartermaster-Sergeant Simpson volunteered to go to exposed point within 40 yards of the fort's Parapet, all the time under heavy fire, to rescue two severely wounded soldiers. The first one, Lieutenant Douglas was brought in and then Sergeant Simpson returned to bring in another, a private soldier.
* Black Watch. (Royal Perth Rifles)
* Black Watch. (Royal Perth Rifles)
Los Angeles, California.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Balbeggie Churchyard, St Martin's, Perth, Scotland
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour John Simpson by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.