Thomas Joseph Simpson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Joseph Simpson
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| Born | November 6, 1921 Windsor, Ontario |
| Died | January 28, 2017 (aged 95) Windsor, Ontario |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Service/ |
Royal Canadian Navy |
| Rank | Able seaman |
| Service number | V-46636 |
| Battles/wars | Battle of the Atlantic |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Italy Star France and Germany Star 1939-1945 Star Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal |
Thomas Joseph Simpson (1921-2017) was a brave Canadian sailor. He was one of the first radar operators in the Royal Canadian Navy. He helped save many lives during World War II. He found a dangerous German submarine, U-boat 1302. For his bravery, he received a special award called the Distinguished Service Medal.
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Finding a Dangerous Submarine
Thomas Simpson played a very important role in March 1945. He helped sink a German submarine called U-boat 1302. This submarine was full of 14 torpedoes. It was sailing in the St George's Channel. This channel is between Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Simpson, who was 23 years old, was on a Canadian ship. The ship was called HMCS La Hulloise. Two other Canadian ships, Strathadam and Thetford Mines, were with them. Their group was called Escort Group 25.
Protecting Ships in Wartime
Their main job was to protect a group of 31 ships. These ships were traveling from Halifax, Canada, to England. Even though World War II was almost over, German submarines were still a big threat. These submarines were known as U-boats.
At 3 a.m. on March 7, Simpson saw something on his radar screen. He found a contact in St George's Channel. At first, the officer on duty did not believe him. But Simpson spoke to the captain. The captain ordered a searchlight to check. Then, they saw a periscope and a snorkel. These are parts of a submarine that stick out of the water.
The Attack and Its Impact
After this discovery, the Canadian ships attacked the U-boat. The Royal Canadian Navy reported what happened next. Sadly, 48 German submariners were lost. Simpson thought about this event for a long time after the war.
When he returned to Liverpool, England, Simpson met with the Admiralty Board. This was a group of important naval officers. They asked him about that night. They wanted to know exactly what he did. The Royal Canadian Navy wanted to give him a "Mention in Dispatches." This is an award for brave actions. However, the Royal Navy decided he deserved an even higher award.
George Simpson, a high-ranking officer, praised Thomas Simpson's actions. He said it was "an outstanding piece of work." He added that finding the periscope and snorkel was very important. It helped them successfully attack the U-boat.
Simpson's Service History
Thomas Simpson joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1942. He joined at HMCS Hunter in Windsor, Ontario. He became a radar operator during the Second World War.
He trained to be a radar operator in two places. First, he trained in Esquimalt, British Columbia. Then, he trained in Halifax, Nova Scotia. After his training, he served on several ships. These included the corvette HMCS Shawinigan. He also served on the frigates HMCS Toronto and HMCS La Hulloise. He served on these ships during the Battle of the Atlantic. Thomas Simpson passed away on January 28, 2017.
Awards and Recognition
On March 7, 1945, HMCS La Hulloise helped sink U-1302. Two other Canadian frigates, Strathadam and Thetford Mines, were also involved. This happened in the St George's Channel.
In August of that year, many sailors received medals. These medals recognized their bravery during the event. Thomas Simpson was one of them. He received the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM). He was one of only 114 Canadians to get this medal for their service in World War II.
