Noel Simpson

Major General Noel William Simpson, (22 February 1907 – 18 November 1971) was an Australian Army officer 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. He died in 1971, at the age of 64.

Early life Simpson was born on 22 February 1907, in Balmain, New South Wales, to Harry and Annie Simpson. His father was an orchardist who had been born in Sydney, while his mother, Annie , had migrated from New Zealand. Noel was the younger of a set of twin boys; his brother, Grosvenor, would also undertake military service, and the pair were both initially commissioned into the Militia 17th Battalion, although Grosvenor would later serve in the British Army and would be killed at Anzio in 1944. After completing his schooling at North Sydney Boys' High School, Simpson joined the National Bank of Australasia in late 1922; he would remain with them for his entire working life except for the period of his war service.

Military career While employed by the National Bank of Australasia in civilian life, Simpson began his military service in 1925, serving in the part time military forces. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1926 and served in a number of infantry battalions – the 17th, 25th/33rd, 34th and 45th

After the war, Simpson resumed his civilian career with National Bank, but returned to the part time military in the post war period. He was the honorary aide-de-camp to the Governor General in 1950, and between 1950 and 1953 filled a staff role in Eastern Command. In 1953–1958, he commanded the 6th Brigade before being promoted to major general and taking over the 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 – before going on to the Reserve of Officers list for the final part of his career. He retired from military service on 23 February 1964, having reached compulsory retirement age after nearly 40 years service.

Later life and legacy During the war, Simpson was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his actions during the fighting around El Alamein and was awarded a Bar to the DSO for his role in the early part of the Huon Peninsula campaign. He was later mentioned in despatches (1947), and appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1956) and a Companion of the Order of the Bath (1963). He was also awarded the Efficiency Decoration in 1946.

In his later life, Simpson continued to work for National Bank, serving as an assistant inspector until he retired in 1966. He died on 18 November 1971 in Heidelberg, Victoria. He never married.