259414 Pte. Rennie Simpson British Army 8th Btn. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders from:Nelson, Lancashire (d.19th April 1945) Rennie Simpson was my Grandfather.
He was killed in Italy painfully close to the end of WW2. He was only 27 years old. He left behind his wife Ida Simpson and his daughter Eileen Simpson aged just 7 I believe. Eileen was my mother. Now sadly passed herself.
I recall memories of her saying Rennie was reluctant to return to battle, following his last leave. He believed he would not return alive. So much so he almost missed deployment with his battalion. Not through any cowardice, simply due to being so engrossed with his wife and child, time went by rapidly and MPs turned up at his door believing he was trying to go AWOL! He believed he had 3 more days when in reality he was almost 12 hrs late rejoining his Battalion.
Many years passed before my mum found his exact burial site. Thanks to MOD researchers she discovered details of the date he died, which theatre and how. They also gave her the details of his burial site in Coriano Ridge War Cemetery Italy. She then got the opportunity to visit her father's grave and say goodbye. Finally getting some closure to something that had left a gaping wound in her life.
A grandfather I had never known, but gave his life for me and many millions more besides, in order to secure a future free from tyranny and oppression. But for him and millions of other soldiers, we would not have the freedoms we now enjoy, the world over.
To my Grandad and all those who made the ultimate sacrifice, I wholeheartedly say thank you.
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