Ray Simpson (soldier)

Rayene Stewart Simpson was born on 16 February 1926 at Redfern in Sydney, the third child of New South Wales-born parents Robert William Simpson, labourer, and his wife Olga Maude, née Montgomery. Olga deserted her husband and children about 1931. Ray was separated from his siblings and placed in the Church of England Home for Boys in Carlingford. Educated at a local school and at Dumaresq Island Public School, Taree, he worked as a labourer. ==Military career==

Simpson joined the Second Australian Imperial Force on 15 March 1944 and was posted to the 41st/2nd Battalion AIF, a training battalion that prepared soldiers for service in the Pacific campaigns. With this battalion, he was posted to Cowra as part of the prisoner of war camp garrison which had been reinforced after the Cowra breakout on 5 August 1944. He was subsequently posted to the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion, while subsequent postings included the Advanced Ordnance Depot and the 26th Battalion. During this time he served in Morotai, Tarakan and Rabaul. Simpson was presented his Victoria Cross by Queen Elizabeth II, at Government House in Sydney, on 1 May 1970. ==Victoria Cross citation==

The citation in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette of 28 August 1969, which announced Simpson's award reads: ==Later life and death==

Simpson took his final discharge from the army in May 1970. His Victoria Cross and portrait are displayed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. ==Notes==