James/John Edmeade Simper
aka Jack Symper
Able Seaman
As far as I know the family knew Simper as John Edmeade Simper. He was married in Sydney in 1892 to Emma Orchard. They had 2 boys while at Port Melbourne. After John/James/Jack’s death the family moved back to Sydney. Both boys served in WW1, the eldest was also in the militia prior to WW1 & 2. I don’t have all the details but John E Simper’s birth was registered in Woolwich, Kent England in 1868.
Details supplied by Ian Gibson
The Argus, 14 November 1898
"It was one of these trips that Symper lost his life, the chap I mentioned before who had been on the "Cordelia". It was during the daytime, a seaboat was called away it was a ten oar cutter and Symper was one of its crew. As the boat is still in the davits when the crew man it, then it is lowered into the water. When he was getting into the boat Symper fell overboard and went down like a stone. A mark buoy was dropped and the ship (Cerberus) stopped. As Symper didn't come to the surface, a diver was sent down but couldn't find him. His body was never recovered, why he sank like a stone and didn't come up again was a mystery to us all. He hadn't been long married. The death of Symper cast a gloom over the ship for the rest of the trip."
Under Steam, Part II, James Condor, Unpublished Manuscript made available by author James Bryance Condor's grand daughter Betty Cromb.
"James Simper, a blue-jacket, was drowned on Friday through a boat capsizing. He came from the Royal Navy to the Cerberus. He leaves a wife and two children, who will be entitled to Compensation from the Government." Portland Guardian, 14 November 1898
Died: about 11-11-1898 Church of England
source:Victorian Navy Monument, Williamstown Cemetery Erected by the Officers, Petty Officers and Men of the Permanent Naval Force of Victoria In Memory of their Deceased Comrades Large Monument surmounted by Large Anchor
courtesy of Helen Harris, OAM
Download James Simper's Certificate of Service 298 kb. |