Len Simpson - Gallipoli bound

1/4/2010

Len Simpson (1939-40) will make a trip to Gallipoli later this month to honour those who served in the eight-month campaign that cost the lives of more than 2700 New Zealanders.

‘‘I deem it an honour to go there to acknowledge those who were killed and fought there.’’

Len Simpson who will be part of the official New Zealand contingent attending this month's Anzac Day commemorations in Gallipoli, holds a tribute to his father-in-law who served there

Len, now 85 and who lives in Dunedin, is one of 22 veterans chosen by ballot to form part of the official New Zealand contingent attending the 95th Anzac Day commemorations in Gallipoli.

Veterans chosen from the ballot were servicemen and women who had served in past wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. To be eligible for the ballot, veterans had to have a direct family link to someone who served in the Gallipoli campaign, and they must have served as a member of the New Zealand Defence
Force.

Len served with both the Royal Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy in the Pacific, and his father-in-law, Corporal Thomas Nicol, served with the Otago Regiment in Gallipoli. Cpl Nicol survived the ordeal by the slimmest of margins: on Mr Simpson’s wall is a montage including a picture of a cut throat razor his father-in-law was carrying, and the bullet or shrapnel it stopped.

‘‘We’re very proud of his service. They went through some pretty grim times,’’ Len said.

Len leaves for Gallipoli on April 17th for a 14-day trip he applied for, but did not expect to get.

‘‘I got a shock when they told me I drew the marble.’’