William Robert Simper was born in Ballarat and was a Carpenter by trade when he enlisted in the 60th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement on 24 January 1916 at the age of 21. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A17 Port Lincoln on 4 May 1916. After initially being posted to the 60th Battalion he was transferred to the 58th Battalion in France in November of 1916. He served there until December 1917 when he was admitted to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital suffering from pleurisy. It was then decided he was no longer fit for active service and he was returned to Australia on the Hospital Ship Kanowna. He was discharged on June 28th 1918 as æmedically unfit - pleurisy with effusion'.
Tree No. 2033