- Contributed byÌý
- kingslightfoot
- People in story:Ìý
- Watkin Morgan Simpson
- Location of story:Ìý
- Burma
- Background to story:Ìý
- Army
- Article ID:Ìý
- A8998492
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 30 January 2006
In Memory of Lance Corporal WATKIN SIMPSON 4033728, 7th Bn., Leicestershire Regiment. Who died aged 23 on the 13 July 1944. Foster-son of Mr and Mrs Samuel Ball, Oakengates, Shropshire. Remembered with honour TAUKKYAN WAR CEMETERY Burma (now Myanmar)
Watkin Morgan Simpson was the uncle we never knew. He died of his wounds, probably received in the battle for Myitkyina, before we were born.
The Leicestershire ‘Tigers’ provided a couple of battalions for Wingate’s Chindit force. They not only had to fight the Japanese, but terrain, climate, disease and starvation also proved deadly foes. The ‘Forgotten Army’ had to endure mud, the humidity and steam of the Burma monsoon, rampant malaria, dysentery and typhus and eat the bullocks and mules, which had carried their supplies.
"When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today"
Watkin is not remembered on a memorial in this country. It is hoped, with the help of the Shropshire War Memorials Association, that he will be included on the memorial in Wellington, where he was born on the 2nd November 1920 (Wrekin Road). He had been an orphan since the age of 3 years. We hope some, if not all, of his short life was good — maybe you remember him?
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