Arthur was born in Melton in 1922 and was the only son of Bertie James Simpkin, DCM. MM. and his wife Emily (née Arnold).

Before the war, Arthur was an apprentice carpenter working for a local builder, Ingram Smith. He enlisted into the Suffolk Regiment on 12^th February 1942 and was transferred to the 5^th (Territorial) Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment on 20^th December that year.

At that time, the 5^th Battalion were fighting in Egypt and the following year they were deployed to Italy, landing at Taranto on 24^th September 1943. By the end of October, the Allies were facing the German defensive position, known as the Gustav line stretching from the River Garigliano to the west and the Sangro to the east. By the 4^th November, the Allied force was preparing to attack the Sangro position. By nightfall on the 30^th November, the whole ridge was in Allied hands. Arthur was killed on 28^th November in the latter stages of the action.

He is buried at Sangro River Cemetery. His parents had the following inscription added to his headstone:

To live in the hearts of those we love is not to die

Memory of Arthur Simpkin from Mrs Emily Haze Green:

He [Arthur] was an apprentice carpenter with Ingram Smith. He was a very fine lad indeed. He had a little dog that went everywhere with him. He was a kindly boy and gentle. The day the telegram came, they were devastated beyond words. Mother, father and sister Dorothy stayed living in Saddlemaker’s Lane [Plantation Place].