Letters from Lt Colin Douglas Simper to Mrs Irene Simper Wallet 3, Part 4

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
AWM2024.6.177
Difficulty:
3

Page 1 / 7

cress an ofew sand bank about thirty yards side - the pungle carle fright down to the panks so was impossible to see what lay on the opposite side The forward sesn't was sent across land when about half way suns the sandbank, he was fired in and killed - he actually lived for about ten minutes. Wle lave an umwritten cade in oue wet that we will get every wounded man out, regardleds. This can norally be done by consentrating heavy Afvre from a flank while others have under cover of this fire and get the rounded + It afferred that sol was over rians and he rushed forward
As lequeared the wounded lad another shot came from the Jap prrition and bal was sot throgh the left puttock, the bulled passon through the lower abdomen and out through the left grain The Estrength of the patrol we am reauced to fom and they did make very commendable endeavours to stense the gap fire in order to get Cal and the other lad out but to us avail. One lad was sent back to bring emtance while the other three engaged the evemy position. Dunn this time, pol, while dying on the a, was sheltered oftm every doe by the bank of the creekland after Pasuring himself that the other lad bea died, Cal crawled out (over
2 sleetly afterwards refety. ity fighting pltral arrived and they cleared the enemy position and carried sol pack to hospital bol was oferated on and the ofecation was werseful and Col in goed progres and wese wal avery chuerfiit after two a slock or reactiol set in and bol and away. He was most cheerful right to the last. Sir sony sring that I am able to llass on any messages as suring this time, my cmpany action the wll told to we story of the by of the sta hal pattel. Ti e olo only thoughts
two children be leved you all very dearly and nver in when ceased speaking o we were togther I he was very friend of this I'i serry that I can tll you anything about the sil- painting Col se but I can tell you the proceduce adopted concerning fusual articles to deleased proounal belone Eaerthing in possession of the deceasd is collected and made up into a parcel – that is, everything not of arny issue in the say y clothes and equpmentA bt of there articles is mase on triplicate, one copy is enclosed i the parcel ane copy forwarded to asud Rebelon Aistrest Ress offic the third copy returned by the
2 mnt There articles are sent by the wet to Records office, who in turn, forward the parsel to the out of him of the deceased. This prendie take quite same time aerially - you know the army - they dre eentually delivered. I feel lave that had the painting been ith his gear where he was camped, It wenld have been included in the parcel I had not sen bol for several bey hed been well weeks thet while time but when II last sew in we had quite any chat and he was his cheaful aw boli grave in the was metiry just bfore I left the rland
10 laid out and every well well cared for while Enames Gorle Irene, the rotten int it? I have ben particularly fortunate myself and have not reclived a scratch _ there were many near messes hewever lit on any equipment was several ocasions. The age of uashs has not yet parced I have seen in hospital now and feel quite will taxdays again _ I expett to be going to kery septt to- mmo. Bust what the futuse belos in store for we I du know, put yesterday I was classified as o2it affecr that will not be sent back to out but I do hope that I not pushed into a pt on the
thought of that dum insland me very much at all afpeal to Id hepe that ad your two you children are well I would love to meet you all soueday; bel has much about you toldit aa and dy and well prohably vorying unnecessarily bu Te knows in Almat heart that I will return sapely to her - I have felt that way all and it lesks quite Certain along chans Iine - please forgie if I have written too wulk, I as utt been any to write but. do hope that what I have written will be of some little help Sincerest regards and sest wisher Yours Sincerely Chape Sir

5

cross an open sand bank about
thirty yards wide — the jungle
came right down to the banks so it
was impossible to see what lay on
the opposite side.
The forward scout was sent
across and when about half way
across the sandbank, he was fired
on and killed — he actually lived
for about ten minutes. We have
an unwritten code in our unit
that we will get every wounded
man out; regardless. This can
normally be done by concentrating
heavy fire from a flank while
others move in under cover of
this fire and get the wounded
out.
It appeared that Col was over-anxious 
and he rushed forward.

 

6

As he neared the wounded lad,

another shot came from the Jap

position and Col was shot through
the left buttock, the bullet passing
through the lower abdomen and
out through the left groin.
The strength of the patrol was
now reduced to four and they
did make very commendable
endeavours to silence the Jap fire
in order to get Col and the other
lad out but to no avail.
One lad was sent back to bring
assistance while the other three
engaged the enemy position. During
this time, Col, while lying on the
ground, was sheltered from enemy

fire by the bank of the creek, and

after assuring himself that the

other lad had died, Col crawled out

(over)

 

7

to safety. Shortly afterwards, a

strong fighting patrol arrived and

they cleared the enemy position

and carried Col back to hospital.

Col was operated on and the

operation was successful and Col

was making good progress and

was very cheerful.

After two days, some sort of

shock or reaction set in and Col

passed away. He was most cheerful

right to the last.

I'm sorry Irene that I am not

able to pass on any messages as

during this time, my Company was

well forward and in action — the

story of the affair was told to me

by one of the lads who was on

Col's patrol. I'm certain though that

Col's only thoughts were of you and

 

8 

your two children — he loved
you all very dearly and never
ceased speaking of you when
we were together — he was very 

proud of his family.

I'm sorry that I can't tell you

anything about the oil - painting Col

did but I can tell you the procedure

adopted concerning personal articles

belonging to deceased personnel.

Everything in possession of the

deceased is collected and made up

into a parcel — that is, everything

not of army issue in the way of

army clothes and equipment. A list

of these articles is made out in

triplicate, one copy is enclosed in

the parcel, one copy forwarded to

x 2nd Echelon District Records Office,

and the third copy retained by the

 

9

unit. 

These articles are sent by the

unit to Records Office, who, in

turn, forward the parcel to the

next-of-kin of the deceased. This

procedure takes quite some time

normally — you know the army — but

they are eventually delivered. I feel

sure that had the painting been

with his gear where he was

camped, it would have been

included in the parcel.

I had not seen Col for several

weeks as my Coy had been well

forward the whole time but when

I last saw him we had quite a

long chat and he was his cheerful

self.

I saw Col's grave in the war

cemetery just before I left the island —

 

10

it is well laid out and very well

cared for.

Gosh Irene, this whole business

is rotten isn't it? I have been

particularly fortunate myself and

have not received a scratch — there

were many near misses however

and my equipment was hit on

several occasions. The age of miracles

has not yet passed.

I have been in hospital now for

ten days and feel quite well

again — I expect to be going to a

Corp Depot to-morrow. Just what

the future holds in store for me

I don't know, but yesterday I was

classified as B2. It appears that I

will not be sent back to my

unit but I do hope that I am

not pushed into a job on this

 

11

island — the thought of that doesn't

appeal to me very much at all.

I do hope that you and you two

children are well  — I would love

to meet you all someday; Col has

told me so much about you.

Alma and Larry are well —

probably worrying unnecessarily but

Alma says she knows in her

heart that I will return safely to

her — I have felt that way all

along and it looks quite certain

now.

Cheerio Irene — please forgive

me if I have written too much; it

has not been easy to write but I

do hope that what I have written

will be of some little help.

Sincerest regards and best wishes.

Yours Sincerely.

Len Chapman.

[*W L Johnson*]
 

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