Simpson, Rev. Cecil Barclay
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Regiment: 4th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders
Biography: Son of Rev. James Simpson ; born Monquhitter, 19 April 1885 ; educated at the Public School there and the Grammar School, Aberdeen ; graduated 1907 with First Class Honours in Mental Philosophy and Second Class Honours in Classics ; awarded the Hutton Prize and Bain Gold Medal in Philosophy on graduation ; Fullerton Scholar in Philosophy, and Gladstone Memorial Prizeman, 1907. Studied Divinity at New College, Edinburgh, and was missionary at Taynuilt during the summer of 1911. Assistant in St. Bernard's U.F. Church, Edinburgh, 1911-13 ; Minister of Moss Street U.F. Church, Elgin, 1914. He was a man with a distinguished mind, a singularly generous nature, and a rare love of the truth. From a sense of duty and with no natural inclination for soldiering, Simpson enlisted in February 1915 in the Inns of Court Battalion, and was in training in London till 25 December 1916. He went to Ripon in January 1917, a month later was commissioned, and crossed to France with the 6th Seaforths. After a short training at Etaples he was transferred to the 4th Seaforths, this Battalion, which formed part of the Army's "Shock troops" having been almost depleted of its officers. His company fought for a time at Ypres and were sent in October to the region of Arras. On Sunday evening, 7 October 1917, during a severe bombardment whilst his men were holding part of the line at Waucourt, Simpson was proceeding down the communication trench, when he was struck by a shell and killed instantaneously.
Date of Death: 07 October 1917
Burial Details: Buried at Guemappe British Cemetery, Waucourt, Plot 2, Row C, Grave 10.
Publication: Roll of Service, edited by Mabel Desborough Allardyce. Published 1921.
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