Cook Bertram Simpson (60) [BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY] Died 25/8/42 A curious casualty listing; Cook Simpson is recorded as dying on 25th August 1942 from ship S.S. Baron Ogilvy, but he is buried in Germany, which would seem to indicate that he had been a POW at the time of his death. The Baron Ogilvy was sunk on 29th September 1942, so his death precedes this loss and I can not see anytime prior to this, when the ship would have lost crew members. So I wonder if anyone knows how he came to be a prisoner or is the CWGC entry for Baron Ogilvy in error? Regards, Steve
This record shows that he WAS a POW. Died of cancer Source: BT 339:1 Roll of Honour of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets. Ships A - I (1939 - 1951)
BARON OGILVY has a prisoner of war record held at TNA Kew in piece BT 373/25 Bertram Simpson also has a file at TNA - BT 373/2174 This file states he was last intered in Milag Nord but this is not correct as far as I can make out he never went there and died in Stalag XB, Sandbostal. I cannot find anything yet with regard to when he was taken as a POW but his MN records show his first voyage on BARON OGILVY was on 25.7.1939. Regards Hugh
I am quite curious too about how he becomes a prisoner of war. I have found the following file WO 416/329/422 which refers to Bertram Simpson. He was captured on 20.6.1940 - ship, BARON OGILVY. Checking the movements of the ship at that time, she had departed Nantes 16 June 40 arrived Barry 22 June 40. There appears to be no incidents during these dates so there must be a possibility that he never sailed with the ship from Nantes on 16 June and went into captivity when German forces took Nantes on 18 June. The answer should be in the narrative section of the Ship's Official Logbook for 1940. Regards Hugh
Thanks Gents, He can't have been taken prisoner when Baron Ogilvy was sunk, considering how it occurred one month after his death as a POW, but all the documents list that as his ship. Curious indeed... I'll add the ships log to my list of TNA documents to see, and hopefully if I manage to get to Kew in 2023, it might add some more information to this puzzle. Regards, Steve
Hi Steve, I don't think anyone is suggesting he was taken POW when the ship was sunk. The primary sources state he was taken POW on 20th June 1940 [ over two years prior to the sinking] again the ship is noted as BARON OGILVY. I can only conclude that he did not sail with the ship [when she departed Nantes] and he went into captivity. Ship's Official Logbook for 1940 held at Kew in piece BT 381/913. Regards Hugh
Hi Hugh, Thanks, I'd missed your post yesterday evening listing that he had been taken prisoner on 20th June 1940. Yes I agree that it's very likely that he missed the sailing his ship and was subsequently captured by the advancing German forces. I'll add the 1940 logbook to my list of TNA documents. Regards, Steve
From BT 381/913 the mystery is solved. Cook Simpson had been paid off and landed ashore in Nantes on 17th May 1940, after an onboard accident. The logbook also has a later addition, noting that he died as a POW on 25th August 1942. It also refers to a health chit on the matter, but this document is no longer with the log book, so presumably has been lost. Regards, Steve
