Private James Gregory-Simpson
Regiment Unknown
James Gregory-Simpson, b. abt. 1881, was the son of John and Annie Gregory-Simpson of Mansfield Road, Eastwood. James moved to the Riddings area in 1906 and ran the Queen’s Head Hotel there for several years and later the Portland Arms Hotel at Jacksdale.
James tragically died after a short illness in late 1925 aged just 44.
His obituary of January 1926 describes him as being a well-known figure in the sporting world, of a generous disposition and having a host of friends. Many hundreds of sympathisers joined his funeral cortege at Ironville church. A large contingent of ex-servicemen under the command of Sergeant Major Fred Daley formed a guard of honour through which the coffin was borne into the church. The funeral was also attended by a large number of members of ‘The Bookmaker’s Protection Society’. Mourners included his brothers Jack and Ben Gregory-Simpson. He left a wife Catherine (Kate) and a daughter Catherine and son-in-law, Arthur Giles.
Catherine (Kate) Gregory-Simpson (wife of James). Photograph Courtesy Mike Rushby
Kate had been married previously to John Henry Paling Rushby and their son George Rushby grew up to be a world famous elephant hunter and game warden in Africa. With James’ premature death, it was the third time she had been widowed.
James Gregory-Simpson is shown in Kelly’s Directory for 1916 and 1922 as landlord of the Portland Arms Hotel, Jacksdale which had been in the hands of the Clark family for many years previously.