A RECENT HONOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 147, 24 June 1939, Page 11

A RECENT HONOUR

WORK FOR EX-SERVICEMEN

According to advice received by relatives in Auckland, Captain Donald Simson, C.8.E., honorary secretary of the British Empire Service League, received a knighthood in the recent Birthday Honours, states the "New Zealand Herald."

Sir Donald spent his early life in New Zealand and served in the South African War as a- member of one. of the New Zealand contingents. Afterwards he settled in Johannesburg and took a leading part in municipal politics, eventually becoming Deputy Mayor. In 1914 he was sent on a tour abroad to inspect municipal works on behalf of the City Council and Municipal Water Board, and was in London at the outbreak of the Great War.

New Zealanders in England immediately formed a volunteer force, and Captain Simson, on his South African experience, was given. command of an infantry company. The volunteers in due course were sent to Egypt, where they were merged in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. With the latter Captain Simson went to Gallipoli, where he was severely wounded in the early fighting.

Invalided to New Zealand, he interested himself in the welfare of his returned comrades, and was mainly instrumental in securing the formation of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association to link the local associations which had grown up in various parts of the Dominion. He was its first president, and acted in that capacity until he had recovered from his wound and was able to go on active service again .

After the Armistice Captain Simson interested himself in the formation of the British Empire Service League and was appointed its honorary secretary, a position which he has held ever since. He revisited New Zealand some years ago while on his way to a conference of the league in Melbourne.