View source for Salisbury Hamilton Simpson

{{CaptRN}} (retired) '''Salisbury Hamilton Simpson''', D.S.O. (24 September, 1884 &ndash; January, 1951) was an officer in the [[Royal Navy]].

==Life & Career==
Born in Kurachee, India, the son of a retired Lieutenant Colonel R. J. Simpson.

Simpson was appointed in command of the {{UK-1TB50|f=t}} on 28 August, 1906.{{NLJan07|p. 400}}

Simpson was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 1 April, 1907.  10 days later, he married Cecilia Lelliott in Plymouth.<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>

He was appointed in command of the {{UK-TB042|f=t}} on 15 May, 1909.{{NLApr10|p. 401}}

In April, 1912, Simpson was appointed in command of the {{UK-1Peterel|f=t}}.

When the War came, he was in the {{UK-Argyll|f=t}}, having been appointed there on 17 March, 1914.

==Great War==
Still in ''Argyll'', Simpson was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 1 April, 1915.  He left the cruiser when appointed on 7 October, 1915, to take command {{UK-Jessamine|f=t}} when she was first commissioned.<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>

Simpson was appointed to H.M.S. ''Westphalia'', a Q-ship, on 19 March, 1917, to assume command upon her commissioning.  Simpson was credited with sinking a U-boat by gunfire on 13 July, 1917 and was awarded a D.S.O. for it, gazetted and invested by the King on 29 August, 1917.  He was also credited with possibly slightly damaging a submarine by gunfire on 20 August.<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>  Though I am unable to find a plausible match for the Uboat reported sunk on Uboat.net,<ref>[http://www.uboat.net/wwi/fates/losses.html List of lost U-boats on UBoat.net].</ref> another online source contains details apparently from the ship's log.<ref name=rfa>[http://www.historicalrfa.org/requisitioned-auxiliaries/178-requisitioned-auxiliaries-u-v-w/1409-requisitioned-auxiliary-westphalia Royal Fleet Auxiliary Historical Society.]</ref>

<blockquote>
''13 July 1917 when the Cullist was operating between the French and Irish coasts. An enemy submarine was sighted on the surface at 11,000 yards range, from which distance it began shelling the Q-Ship. After firing 38 rounds without recording a hit, the enemy was enticed by Simpson’s tactics to close the range to 5,000 yards, and fired a further 30 rounds, some of which straddled their target. At 1407 hours Cullist returned fire, her gunners getting the range after their second salvo was fired and numerous hits were recorded on the enemy’s conning tower, gun and deck. Then an explosion was seen followed by bright red flames, and three minutes after engaging the submarine it was seen to go down by the bows leaving oil and debris on the surface - the latter included ‘a corpse dressed in blue dungarees, floating face upwards.' ''
</blockquote>

Simpson received a bar to his D.S.O for action against a submarine on 28 September, 1917 in which it was thought that 8 of 13 rounds fired struck the enemy,<ref name=rfa/> this award being gazetted on 22 February, 1918.  It was further noted that "his ship being cooly and ably worked, and showed that excellent discipline and organization prevail" in yet another action on 17 November, 1917 where an enemy submarine escaped after receiving an estimated 8 hits of 14 rounds fired at her.<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>

Simpson's good fortune would run out, as the heyday of Q-ship tactics was already past.  Renamed ''Cullist'', his command was lost to {{DE-U97}} on 11 February, 1918 in the Irish Sea.  Five officers, twenty-seven ratings, two R.M.L.I., and nine Mercantile Marine Reservists were lost.{{KindellROH2|pp. 461-2}}  Simpson survived with a badly dislocated shoulder.  He would become an Auxiliary Patrol officer at Plymouth with some shore-based duty spelled out as "P.M.S.O.", but he was spending much time convalescing, spending 82 days of full pay sick leave on the books of ''Victory'' that had to be extended another month before he was finally surveyed as fit "for shore duty only, preferably in neighbourhood of London to to enable him to continue the necessary treatment."<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>

On 17 May, 1918, Simpson was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the President of the French Republique.<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>

==Post-War==
Simpson was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1919.  He married Maimie (?) Donovan at the Registry Office in Saint Martin's, London on 23 January, 1920.<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/280.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>

Simpson was loaned to the [[Royal Australian Navy]] to take up command of H.M.A.S. {{UK-Anzac}}.  The tenure in command may have been brief, but his service on the books of Australia continued to mid April 1923, when he returned to England and Royal Naval service.<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>

He spent a year in command of destroyers in Reserve, being borne in {{UK-Hecla}} from 29 August, 1923.  On 26 December, 1924, he was appointed to the shallow draught steamer ''Widgeon'', in service on the Yangtze, to take command vice [[Montague George Bentinck Legge|Montague Legge]] in January 1925.  His services in the roiled waters of the Yangtze prompted the Admiralty to thank him in 1926 for "his good service in difficult situations during the disturbances in China."<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref> 

On 5 July, 1927, he was appointed to {{UK-Columbine}} for command of a reserve group of destroyers, but after just three months he was appointed to the Admiralty for just ten days duty in the [[Naval Intelligence Division (Royal Navy)|Naval Intelligence Division]].<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>

18 October 1927 saw him supersede [[Cecil James Crocker|Cecil Crocker]] in command of Emergency destroyers.  He left this posting when he was appointed in command of the {{UK-Cambrian|f=t}} on 10 December, 1929, being superseded there on 11 June, 1930.<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>

==Retirement==
Simpson was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 16 December, 1930.<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>

He was called back for service in World War II, serving as Divisional Sea Transport Officer, Plymouth from 4 September, 1939 and as D.S.T.O., Plymouth from 14 April, 1941, and then from Glasgow for the latter half of 1945.<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
* [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_rv=simple&_q=ADM+Salisbury+Hamilton+Simpson Service Records]
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salisbury_Hamilton_Simpson}}
{{refend}}

<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Harold Robert Priston|Harold R. Priston]]'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 27 (1885)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 27]]'''<br>13 Aug, 1906<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref> &ndash; 28 Aug, 1906<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Arthur George Harrington|Arthur G. Harrington]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Arthur Henry Durrant Field|Arthur H. D. Field]]'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 50 (1885)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 50]]'''<br>28 Aug, 1906{{NLJan07|p. 400}} &ndash; ''c''. Mar, 1907|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Herbert Acheson Forster|Herbert A. Forster]]'''<br><small>as '''Captain of H.M.T.B. 050'''</small>}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Clive Neville Rolfe|Clive N. Rolfe]]'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 42 (1885)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 042]]'''<br>15 May, 1909{{NLApr10|p. 401}} &ndash; 26 May, 1910{{INF}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Henry Percy Boxer|Henry P. Boxer]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Alfred Geoffrey Peace|Alfred G. Peace]]'''|'''[[H.M. T.B. 108 (1901)|Captain of H.M. T.B. 108]]'''<br>26 May, 1910{{NLMar11|p. 401''a''}} &ndash; 3 Apr, 1911{{INF}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[James Robert Carnegie Cavendish|James R. C. Cavendish]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Norman Malet Colquhoun Thurstan|Norman M. C. Thurstan]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Opossum (1895)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Opossum'']]'''<br>3 Apr, 1911<ref>"Naval Appointments."  ''The Times'' (London, England), Thursday, Mar 23, 1911; pg. 14; Issue 39540.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Sidney Charles Cox|Sidney C. Cox]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Clarence Walter Eyre Trelawny|Clarence W. E. Trelawny]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Peterel (1899)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Peterel'']]'''<br>Mar, 1912<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref> &ndash; 6 May, 1913<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Walter Odwin Hutton Lambert|Walter O. H. Lambert]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Sidney Charles Cox|Sidney C. Cox]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Opossum (1895)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Opossum'']]'''<br>26 Mar, 1913<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref> &ndash; Mar, 1913<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Alfred Reep|Alfred Reep]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Walter Odwin Hutton Lambert|Walter O. H. Lambert]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Peterel (1899)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Peterel'']]'''<br>''c''. late Feb, 1914{{NavAppts|Thursday, Feb 19, 1914; pg. 10; Issue 40451}}<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref> &ndash; 17 Mar, 1914<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[George Francis Hole|George F. Hole]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Jessamine (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Jessamine'']]'''<br>7 Oct, 1915<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref> &ndash; 19 Mar, 1917<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Sidney Arthur Geary Hill|Sidney A. Geary Hill]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[William Jock Whitworth|William J. Whitworth]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Anzac (1917)|Captain of H.M.A.S. ''Anzac'']]'''<br>22 Sep, 1919<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Alan Frederic William Howard|Alan F. W. Howard]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Lewes George Gardner|Lewes G. Gardner]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Sportive (1918)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Sportive'']]'''<br>10 Jul, 1924<ref>Simpson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/280.|}} f. 151.</ref> &ndash; ''c''. 20 Aug, 1924{{INF}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Godfrey Ratcliffe Chambers|Godfrey R. Chambers]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Montague George Bentinck Legge|Montague G. B. Legge]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Widgeon (1904)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Widgeon'']]'''<br>26 Dec, 1924{{NLApr25|p. 289}} &ndash; Jan, 1925|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Leon Stopford Acheson|Leon S. Acheson]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[Yangtse River|Senior Naval Officer, Upper Yangtse]]'''<br>26 Dec, 1924{{NLApr25|p. 289}}|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Paul Felix Palmer Berryman|Paul F. P. Berryman]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Ivan Walter Whitehorn|Ivan W. Whitehorn]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Cockchafer (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Cockchafer'']]'''<br>Aug, 1925<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref> &ndash; 28 Nov, 1926<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Leon Stopford Acheson|Leon S. Acheson]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Richard Hayden Owen Lane-Poole|Richard H. O. Lane-Poole]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Cambrian (1916)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Cambrian'']]'''<br>10 Dec, 1929<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref> &ndash; 11 Jun, 1930<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[John Graham Bower|John G. Bower]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Francis Eaton Travers|Francis E. Travers]]'''|'''[[Plymouth|Divisional Naval Transport Officer, Plymouth]]'''<br>4 Sep, 1939<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/280.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref> &ndash; 13 Apr, 1940<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/280.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Salisbury Hamilton Simpson|Salisbury H. Simpson]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''Post in Abeyance'''|'''[[Liverpool|Divisional Naval Transport Officer, Liverpool]]'''<br>13 Apr, 1940<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/280.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref> &ndash; 30 Jun, 1940<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/280.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Salisbury Hamilton Simpson|Salisbury H. Simpson]]'''|'''[[Plymouth|Divisional Naval Transport Officer, Plymouth]]'''<br>30 Jun, 1940<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/280.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref> &ndash; 14 Apr, 1941<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/280.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Thomas Charles Broome|Thomas C. Broome]]'''|'''[[Belfast|Naval Transport Officer in Charge, Belfast]]'''<br>14 Apr, 1941<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/280.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref> &ndash; 1 Jul, 1945<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/280.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Sholto Grant Douglas|Sholto G. Douglas]]'''|'''[[Glasgow|Divisional Naval Transport Officer, Glasgow]]'''<br>1 Jul, 1945<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/280.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref> &ndash; 1915<ref>Simpson Service Records.  {{TNA|ADM 196/49/280.|D7604377}} f. 151.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Salisbury Hamilton}}

{{CatPerson|UK|1884|}}
{{CatCapt|UK}}
{{CatBritannia|January, 1900}}
{{CatRN}}