William Simpson

William Ballantyne Simpson (12 June 1894 – 24 November 1966) was an Australian soldier, barrister, Army officer, administrator and Supreme Court judge.

Early life Simpson was born in Balmain, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales. He was educated at Fort Street Boys' High School. His father was a barrister and William enrolled in Law at Sydney University.

In December 1916 Simpson deferred his Law studies and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. In January 1918 he was sent to the Western Front where he served as a driver.#tag:ref|Simpson served with the 11th Field Company, Engineers. He returned to Australia in June 1942 and was appointed deputy judge advocate-general at Land Headquarters in Melbourne.

National security In September 1942 Simpson was appointed Director-General of Security in Australia. The director-general of security was Head of the Commonwealth Security Service and was based in Canberra. and continued as a civilian in his role as director-general of security. In June 1945 he produced a report warning of the danger of the Communist Party of Australia.

Justice Simpson gave advice on the findings of war crimes tribunals in Australia.

Air accidents Justice Simpson chaired Air Courts of Inquiry into three major aviation accidents in Australia:

1946 Australian National Airways DC-3 crash – In March 1946 a Douglas DC-3 crashed immediately after take-off from Hobart, killing all 25 people on board. It was Australia's worst civil aviation accident. 1948 Australian National Airways DC-3 crash – In September 1948 a Douglas DC-3 named Lutana crashed en route from Brisbane to Sydney, killing all 13 people on board. Justice Simpson's report was critical of Australia's out-dated air navigation systems. As a result, he was subjected to strong criticism from members of the Government. 1950 Australian National Airways Douglas DC-4 crash – In June 1950 a Douglas DC-4 Skymaster named Amana crashed 22 minutes after take-off from Perth, killing all 29 people on board. It was Australia's worst civil aviation accident.

Shipping accident In November 1947 Justice Simpson chaired the Commonwealth Court of Marine Inquiry into the stranding of the 9,786-ton motor vessel Reynella on a reef. On 18 August 1947, while sailing from Lae, Papua New Guinea to Sydney, the Reynella became stranded on a reef in the Jomard Passage in the Louisiade Archipelago. There was no injury or loss of life, and the Reynella was refloated on 12 September 1947.

Justice Simpson found the Reynella’s Captain was careless in his navigation and ordered his certificate of competency to be suspended for six months.

Later life Mr Justice Simpson retired from the Supreme Court in April 1960 suffering from Parkinson's disease. He died in Marrickville, a Sydney suburb, in November 1966.