John Simpson (British Army officer)

John Simpson
John Simpson
	Simpson in 1969
Born	10 October 1927; Trinidad
Died	7 March 2007 (aged 79); Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1945–1979
Rank	Brigadier
Commands	Special Air Service; Royal Brunei Malay Regiment
Battles/wars	Malayan Emergency; Cyprus Emergency; Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
Awards	Commander of the Order of the British Empire; Order of Setia Negara Brunei, Second Class; Order of Pahlawan Negara Brunei, First Class
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Brigadier John James Hope Simpson, CBE (10 October 1927 – 7 March 2007), also referred to as J.J.H. Simpson,^[4] was a British Army officer who served as Director SAS from 1972 to 1975. Notably, he received praise from the Sultan of Brunei for his efforts to bolster the nation's defense forces.^[5]

Early life and education

The son of a South African-educated lawyer from a Scottish family that had ties to South Africa and India since the 1860s, John James Hope Simpson was born in Trinidad. Before enrolling at Queen's Royal College in Trinidad, he attended preparatory school in England.^[5]

Military career

Simpson enlisted in the Coldstream Guards in May 1945 and was commissioned into the Gordon Highlanders in 1946.^[6] He served in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency in the early 1950s, in Cyprus during terrorist campaign EOKA in the late 1950s, and then commanded a small amphibious team in Borneo during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation in the early 1960s.^[6] He was appointed an instructor at the Staff College, Camberley, in 1965, commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces in 1969 and Director SAS in 1972.^[7] His last appointment was in 1975 as director of the team at the Defence Policy Staff who had responsibility for NATO and Europe before he retired in 1979.^[6]

Simpson succeeded Lieutenant Colonel H.F. Burrows as the commander of the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (AMDB) on 1 May 1969.^[8]^[9] Upon launching of military exercise Harimau Timah, he coordinated the movement of soldiers of ADMB and Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) against the 2nd Royal Gurkha Rifles as the opposing force. The week-long exercise showcased their capability in breaking enemy lines in the jungles and rivers of Brunei.^[10] On 23 September 1970, the wife of Simpson officiated the KDB Masna ship launch ceremony at the Vosper Thornycroft shipyard in Tanjong Rhu, Singapore.^[11] On 4 December 1971, he was replaced by Colonel B.F.L. Rooney.^[2]

Legacy

Things named after him

Jalan Dato Simpson, a road in Berakas Camp^[12]

Honours

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)^[13]

References

^ "Report of the 150th Annual General Meeting". The RUSI Journal. 126 (3): 89. 1981. doi:10.1080/03071848109441955. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
^ ^a ^b Office, Great Britain Colonial (1971). Brunei. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 298.
^ "D.Y.M.M. Kurniakan Bintang2 Kebesaran" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 1 December 1971. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
^ "Uphacara menerima kappa terbang yang pertama untok Brunei" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 27 January 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Brigadier John Simpson". The Times. 7 July 2023. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Obituary: Brigadier John Simpson The Times, 29 March 2007
^ "Army Commands" (PDF). 26 July 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016.
^ Office, Great Britain Colonial (1969). Brunei. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 200.
^ "Upachara Perpisahan Ka-atas Dato Burrows" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 5 May 1969. p. 8. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
^ "D.Y.M.M. Lawat Latehan "Harimau Timah"" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 1 October 1969. p. 4. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
^ "Jasamu sentiasa dikenang » Media Permata Online". Jasamu sentiasa dikenang. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
^ "Web Map". Survey Department. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
^ "No. 46777". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1975. p. 6.