Lt Thomas Leigh Simpson - Story
‘Clifton’ homestead as it appeared in 1914.
The property and homestead are still operating today near Hamilton in Victoria’s west .
Leigh was born in Hamilton Victoria, the eldest son of prize-winning cattle breeder A.J.Simpson. With four brothers and a sister he was raised in the idyllic pastoral surroundings of ‘Clifton’ a stately property eight miles west of Hamilton. In 1912 he enrolled at Scotch College then spent two years as an apprentice electrical engineer in the prestigious firm of Ronaldson Bros & Tippet engine makers in Ballarat before enlisting soon after the outbreak of war.
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He joined the 3rd LHFA under the watchful eye of his cousin, LT (Dr) John Anderson and although friends with many of the doomed 8th Light horse boys who took part in the infamous charge at ‘the Nek’ he was not involved in that action. Instead the 3rd LHFA was attached to the 4th Brigade under Brig Gen Monash and went north to an equally perilous month of battles, including Hill 60. Leigh often went out under fire at night to rescue the wounded, details of which he recalls to his father in writing letter while crammed in a dugout.
He survived Gallipoli although returned to Egypt ill with the mumps and spent a month in Heliopolis hospital. On recovery he stayed with his often-idle regiment and became very unsettled, writing of his unsuccessful bids for transfer. His younger brother Robin passed through on the way to France with an artillery battery and they spent a few days together enjoying the sights of Port Said and Cairo, of which Leigh was now very familiar.
Due to his experience with motor bikes and machines he spent a month as driver for Brigade Commander Gen Antill, but was back with the Field Ambulance in time to take part in the successful battle of Romani and the retreat of the Ottoman Army back through the northern Sinai to El Arish. However in early December 1916 he finally gained his transfer and much to his delight joined the Australian Flying Corps as a 2nd class mechanic.
Soon the 68th Squadron sailed across the Mediterranean by Malta to France, disembarking at Marseilles and travelling by train for two days north to the English Channel. In the UK he began training as a pilot and was attached to numerous British squadrons in various locations before finally gaining his wings and promotion to 2nd Lieut. He survived two crash landings in farmland and recalls them routinely to his parents, reassuring them that flying is safer than driving a motorcar.
At this time Leigh’s Flight was commanded by his cousin the well-known Australian pioneer aviator John Duigan, however in early May Duigan was wounded and Simpson was temporarily promoted to Captain to take his place as Flight leader. However this posting was not to last long, for in early June Leigh finally received his ‘iron ration’ while on a mission and after skillfully landing in safe territory he was painfully transported for three days to the 2nd Red Cross Hospital in Rouen.
Two weeks later he was transported to the UK, and after a lengthy time of repatriation he sailed for home in September, hearing of the war’s end just before arriving home to Melbourne.
In September 1918 he embarked for France and was posted near Flanders with the 3rd Squadron AFC. This was a reconnaissance unit flying RE8 planes in which he flew over 170 missions - taking photos behind the lines, monitoring artillery and later, training novice pilots.
In April while stationed near Amien he was on a routine flight with another RE8 over the lines when they was attacked by a group of German tri-planes, the leader of which broke off to unsuccessfully attack Simpson, who eluded him in his awkward and outdated RE8 machine. The enemy group then left the fight to engage a group of British fighters, and during this dogfight the leader Cpt Baron Von Richthofen was killed by machine gun fire low near the Somme River.
Leigh was unaware of the Baron’s fate, and later while returning to base he was vengefully attacked by the remainder of the German squadron who were out to repay the death of their leader. By engaging a dangerous practice he was common with, Leigh dived in a free spiral and over a five thousand foot fall he managed to break away from the group of enemy fighters, this feat being mentioned in the citation for his Distinguished Flying Conduct medal.
Leigh recalls this day in detail to his father in a letter that has to this day not been added to the inventory of material surrounding the death of the famous German ‘ace’ the Red Baron.
Turkish shell exploding near a grounded tug just above North Beach, opposite Sazli Dere - Gallipoli October 1915.
3rd Brigade Light Horse commander Brig General Antill (standing) and staff - Egypt 1916
Gnome B.S. at Kantara aerodrome January 1917.
Turkish prisoners being marched back toward the Canal by Scottish guards - 1916.
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(All photos are from the TLSimpson Collection currently being restored and collated by Yi Long Productions on behalf of Dohle & Simpson family members.)
The Grampians near Dunkeld, western Victoria. This is the area where T.L.Simpson ran a property called ‘Sazli’ from the early 1920‘s until his death in 1960.
