Noel William Simpson CB CBE DSO (1907 - 1971)

Biography

Major General Noel 'Red Fox' Simpson CB CBE DSO & Bar ED was an officer in the Australian Army who served during the Second World War, commanding at both battalion and brigade level. In the post-war military, he rose to command the 3rd Division before serving on the Military Board as the Citizen Military Forces member, retiring in 1964. He was a banker in civilian life, rising to the role of assistant-inspector of the National Bank of Australasia.

Noel William Simpson was born on 22nd February 1907 in Temora, New South Wales, Australia. He was the younger son, and middle of triplets, of Harry Simpson, an orchardist, and New Zealand-born Annie Thomas. ^[1] The family later moved to Sydney. After completing his formal education at North Sydney Boys' High School, Noel joined the National Bank of Australasia in late 1922; he would remain with the bank for his entire working life except for his full-time war service.

Noel began his military service in 1925, serving in the part time military forces. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1926 and served in a number of infantry battalions during the inter-war years, rising to the rank of Major by the time the Second World War broke out. Noel deployed to the Middle East as Second in Command 2/13th Infantry Battalion in late 1940, but shortly after arrival, he was seconded to the headquarters staff of the 7th Division, and later in the Syria–Lebanon campaign against the Vichy French in mid-1941. In early 1942, he returned to the 2/13th before being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in March 1942 and taking command of the 2/17th Battalion; at this time he gained a reputation for his thorough training methods, and he subsequently led the battalion successfully through the Second Battle of El Alamein as the Allies launched a heavy offensive against the Germans and Italians in North Africa.

In 1943, Noel's unit was brought back to Australia in preparation for operations against the Japanese in New Guinea. They undertook intensive training in Queensland, including amphibious landings, which eventually paid dividends when the 2/17th took part in the Huon Peninsula campaign, carrying out a landing at Scarlet Beach on 22nd September 1943. Throughout September and October, despite being wounded, Simpson led the battalion in heavy fighting around Kumawa, and then Jivevaneng, where they held off a Japanese force that had threatened to encircle them. After returning to Australia, Noel was posted to the 2/43rd Infantry Battalion, commanding them as they undertook training in Queensland ahead of the Borneo campaign. He was promoted to Brigadier in March 1945 and placed in command of the 29th Brigade, a Militia formation tasked with joining II Corps' 3rd Division on Bougainville. He assumed command of the 23rd Infantry Brigade in November 1945, leading the formation home to Australia.

Following the war, Noel was an honorary aide-de-camp to the Governor General in 1950, between 1950 and 1953 filled a staff role in Eastern Command, during 1953–1958 he commanded the 6th Brigade and, upon promotion to Major General, took command of 3rd Division in 1959–1960. In 1960–1962, he was the Citizen Military Forces representative of the Military Board – essentially holding the highest position available for a part-time officer.

He retired from military service on 23rd February 1964, having reached compulsory retirement age after nearly 40 years service. He continued to work for the National Bank, serving as an assistant inspector until he retired in 1966.

Aged 64 years, he passed away on 18th November 1971 in Heidelberg, Victoria. Noel never married.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #40239/1922

See also

• Wikipedia: Noel Simpson; accessed 28 May 2022.