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Cenotaph record

Charles James Simpkiss

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Portrait, Weekly News - This image may be subject to copyright

Portrait, Weekly News - This image may be subject to copyright

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Charles James AWMM
  • Surname
    Simpkiss AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    72664 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    28 November 1920 AWMM New Plymouth, Taranaki AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Unknown AWMM c/o Porters' Room, New Zealand Railways, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Mrs L. Simpkiss (mother), 254 Devon Street, New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Pre 01 Jul 1942-31 December 1942 AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    72664 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 Unknown AWMM Railway porter/Civilian AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Died of wounds, Cause of Death AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Son of Victor Robert and Lena Simpkiss, of New Plymouth. AWMM
    • Charles James Simpkiss was remembered as "kind young Jim" by many New Plymouth locals during the 1930s when the long-established Simpkiss grocery business on Devon Street West was still in operation. Before the war, Jim was as member of the Taranaki Alpine Club, the Star Rugby Club and the New Plymouth Rowing Club. In 1942 he enlisted in the Army for basic training. Not long after heading back to New Plymouth, he was sent to Italy as a Trooper with the 2nd Divisional Cavalry Regiment. Trooper Simpkiss' vehicle took a direct hit from shell or mortar fire and he did not recover from his injuries. Trooper C J Simpkiss was buried in the Cassino War Cemetery, Italy. He was 23. Public - Louise - Researcher - 12 March 2020 - West, J. (1995). Lest We Forget. New Plymouth: New Plymouth Boy’s High School Centennial Trust.
      Puke Ariki, Swainson/Woods Collection ARC# WD.011770
      Retrieved from https://collection.pukeariki.com/objects/104723
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    1 June 1944 AWMM
    Age 23 AWMM
    Italy, Europe AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Died of wounds AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Cassino War Cemetery, Italy AWMM X.B.16. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
    Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
    https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2612849
    Sources Used
  • References
    • Loughnan, R. (1963). Divisional Cavalry. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
      p. 337. AWMM
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 9 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1942 to 31st December, 1942). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      p.362 AWMM
    • Loughnan, R. (1963). Divisional Cavalry. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
02 March 2022Ian BanksTaumarunui New ZealandResearcher
12 March 2020Louise New Plymouth, New ZealandResearcher

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