Rayene Stewart Simpson
Warrant Officer Second, Class. Australian Army Training Team
- Register No.
- 1146 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Warrant Officer Second all Warrant Officer Class IIs →
- Unit
- Class. Australian Army Training Team all Class. Australian Army Training Team VCs →
- London Gazette
- 29th August 1969 on this day → all of 1969 →
- Born
- 16th February 1926 at Redfern, New South Wales, Australia
- Died
- 17th October 1978 at Tokyo, Japan
- Memorial / grave
- at Yokohama War Cemetery, Japan and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra
- Medal held by
- Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Digest of citation
Warrant Officer Simpson was in command of a mobile strike force of the 5th Special Forces Group serving in Vietnam. A platoon came under an extremely heavy engagement with the Vietcong and the Warrant Officer led his company to their assistance. With complete disregard for his own safety, he led the men in an assault on the enemy's left flank. During the assault, another Warrant Officer was seriously wounded and the assault began to waver. Under extremely heavy fire, and at the risk of his own life, Warrant Officer Simpson made his way across ground exposed, all the time, by fire and carried the wounded WO to safety. Returning to his company, he displayed a further disregard for himself when, crawling up to within 10 metres of the enemy position, he threw grenades into their midst. Unable to penetrate the enemy position, he ordered his men to retire. Throwing smoke grenades, he covered the withdrawal of the men as he carried a wounded comrade, along with five native soldiers. On 11th May 1969, Warrant Officer Simpson, alone, and under enemy fire, placed himself between the enemy and the wounded, covered their withdrawal and their successful evacuation to the helicopter pad
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SIMPSON, Rayene Stewart. (reg No. 1146).
Warrant Officer, Second Class. Australian Army Training Team.
* London Gazetted on 29th August 1969.
VC Medal's Custodian is Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Born on 16th February 1926 at Redfern, New South Wales, Australia.
Died on 17th October 1978 at Tokyo, Japan.
Memorial on grave at Yokohama War Cemetery, Japan and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
Digest of Citation reads: Warrant Officer Simpson was in command of a mobile strike force of the 5th Special Forces Group serving in Vietnam. A platoon came under an extremely heavy engagement with the Vietcong and the Warrant Officer led his company to their assistance. With complete disregard for his own safety, he led the men in an assault on the enemy's left flank. During the assault, another Warrant Officer was seriously wounded and the assault began to waver. Under extremely heavy fire, and at the risk of his own life, Warrant Officer Simpson made his way across ground exposed, all the time, by fire and carried the wounded WO to safety. Returning to his company, he displayed a further disregard for himself when, crawling up to within 10 metres of the enemy position, he threw grenades into their midst. Unable to penetrate the enemy position, he ordered his men to retire. Throwing smoke grenades, he covered the withdrawal of the men as he carried a wounded comrade, along with five native soldiers. On 11th May 1969, Warrant Officer Simpson, alone, and under enemy fire, placed himself between the enemy and the wounded, covered their withdrawal and their successful evacuation to the helicopter pad.
* Vietnam.
Additional information:. WO II Simpson also held the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) (For more details see www.vwip.org.)
SIMPSON, Walter. This name was an alias for EVANS, Arthur (Reg No. 388)
Additional information
WO II Simpson also held the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) (For more details see www.vwip.org.) SIMPSON, Walter. This name was an alias for EVANS, Arthur (Reg No. 388)
*
* Vietnam.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Yokohama War Cemetery, Japan and on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra
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.
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