Edward Telford Simpson

Edward Telford Simpson (1889-1965), Alice's grandson, was born the only son of Edward Percy Simpson and his wife Anne. Simpson studied law at the University of Sydney and was admitted to the bar in 1915, but travelled to England the following year to train as a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps. He obtained his commission in March 1917 and between this time and July 1918 logged over 700 flying hours with a squadron supporting French forces on the Western Front. He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre in September 1918. After the war, Simpson practised with his father's law firm, Minter, Simpson & Co, remaining there until his retirement in 1960. Counting Sir Robert Menzies among his friends, he mixed in conservative political circles, and was associated with a number of anti-communist causes in the inter-war years. Simpson's business interests included the NSW Southdown Stud Breeders' Association, which he founded in 1952; Northern Collieries; Richardson & Wrench; Australian Paper Manufacturers Ltd and Mort's Dock & Engineering Co. Ltd. An accomplished cricketer, footballer and rower as a student, and a club man as an adult, Simpson was described by his daughter-in-law Caroline as a short, friendly man and a witty raconteur.

Gift of the Simpson family in memory of Caroline Simpson OAM 2008. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.