Partner Hector Bolitho
Queer Places:
Boytons, Boyton's Ln, Saffron Walden CB10, UK
St Andrew Churchyard
Tangmere, Chichester District, West Sussex, England
John William Charles Simpson (March 14, 1913 - August 12, 1949) shared his life and his
home with Hector Bolitho. Hector
described John as his ‘secretary’, which was then a common euphemism for
gay partner. It is possible that they had a relationship which lasted into
the war. In 1943 Hector wrote Combat Report as a loving tribute to John
(who is identified in the book only as ‘John’, his surname is omitted). In
the book he described the start of their ‘relationship’ in 1934 when
Hector was 37 and John was 21. At this time Hector had started work on his
biography of James MacKay, the first Lord Inchcape. John provided Hector
with the help he needed, becoming his ‘secretary’ and librarian. In Combat
Report Hector described the close relationship John had with his mother,
‘a lovely, intelligent woman’ and how, in September 1934, John took off
his bowler hat, put away his folded umbrella, and set up home with Hector
in a house called ‘Boytons’ in Hempstead, Saffron Walden in Essex. In 1940
John was appointed a flight commander and for his bravery in the Battle of
Britain he was awarded the DFC for showing courage and skill and for
setting an excellent example. On 29 July 1941 Hector attended the
presentation ceremony at Buckingham Palace with John and his mother, as
well as John’s sister Ruth. If Hector and John did have a relationship it
did not survive John’s postings abroad to Gibraltar in 1942 as a wing
commander and to North Africa in 1943 as a group captain. In 1945 John
married, but in 1949 at the age of 36 he committed suicide, shooting
himself in the head in London’s St James’s Park. Newspapers reported that
at the inquest his wife told the coroner her husband was worried that
headaches he was suffering following a car accident would cause him to
have to give up flying, which he loved. A verdict of ‘Suicide while his
balance of mind was disturbed’ was recorded.
John William Charles Simpson was born at Ramsay St Mary's, Huntingdonshire on 14th March 1913. He joined the RAF on a short service commission in January 1936 and did his initial training course at 9 E&RFTS Ansty.
John Simpson, by Eric Kennington
John Simpson by Cuthbert Orde
Simpson was posted to 5 FTS Sealand on 21st March and joined 43 Squadron at Tangmere on 11th October 1936. In December he became squadron adjutant.
Still serving with 43, Simpson shared in probably destroying a He111 on 3rd February 1940. On 9th May he was appointed a Flight Commander and on this day he shared in the destruction of a Do17. Over Dunkirk on 1st June Simpson destroyed a Me109 and a Me110 and on the 7th two Me109's and a Me110 over France.
He was awarded the DFC (gazetted 25th June 1940).
Simpson claimed a Me109 destroyed and another damaged on 19th July. He was then shot down himself and baled out, landing in a cucumber frame at Worthing and suffered a broken collar bone and wounded in the ankle. His Hurricane, P3140, crashed into the Channel off Felpham.
Simpson returned to 43 in October and on 30th November probably destroyed a Ju88, which crashed into the sea.
In early December 1940 Simpson was given command of 245 Squadron at Aldergrove. On 8th/9th April 1941 he destroyed a He111 at night over Belfast, the first German aircraft to fall on Northern Ireland. On 5th/6th May he shot down another He111 at night and on the 13th he shot down a Do17.
He was awarded a Bar to the DFC (gazetted 30th May 1941).
In mid-June 1941 Simpson was posted away to a staff job. In November 1942 he was in Gibraltar, as a Wing Commander, and in January 1943 he was in North Africa as a Group Captain.
Still serving in the RAF, Simpson died from a self-inflicted shot on 12th August 1949.
The inquest heard evidence that Simpson had suffered ill health since 1945 and about a month before his death had been injured in a car accident. He had been concussed and headaches continued. He appeared to have become concerned that his flying career might be over. The coroner described Simpson as "a gallant officer with a fine war record" and recorded a verdict that, "he took his life whilst the balance of his mind was disturbed".
He is buried in St Andrew's churchyard, Tangmere. His portrait was done by Eric Kennington and Cuthbert Orde.
Simpson was the subject of a wartime book 'Combat Report' by Hector Bolitho, though he was only identified as 'John' in its pages. The book was recently re-issued as 'Finest of the Few'.
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