Simonds John Gates 1879

John Gates Simonds

1879-1917

Note: Some records show the middle name as Yates but to date no evidence of a name connection to Gates or Yates and so this record is recorded as Gates as this is the name on Army Records.

Father Nm: William Lamble Simonds 1839–1898
BIRTH ABT 1839 • St Pancras, Middlesex, England
DEATH ABT 1898 • Essex,

Mother Nm: Eliza Maria Newby born abt 1850 Haggerston London died 1917.

Marriage Dt:30 Oct 1899, Plaistow, St. Andrew, Essex

K comments: Brother was KIA in WW1 he was William Newby Simonds  born abt 1874
Death Date: 20 Apr 1917
Cemetery: Cemetery Fr 8 Calais Southern France
Burial Country: France
Regiment: Royal Garrison Artillery
Regimental Number: 314077

Spouse comments:Florence Lucy Blinko [3461] 1880–1961
BIRTH 13 AUG 1880  Hackney, Middlesex, England
DEATH OCT 1961   Middlesex

Children.:Florence Emily Simonds 1904–, Elsie Simonds 1907–

Born Abt 1879

GRO Sept 1879 John Gates Simonds Hackney, was likely living at Homerton, Middlesex.

1881 Census

11 Eden Place, Haggerston  London
William Simonds 42
Eliza Simonds 31
Lawrena Simonds 15
Florence Simonds 11
William Simonds 7
Emily Simonds 5
John Simonds 1
Elizlth. Simonds

1891 Census

16 Meredith Lane, West Ham
William Simonds 52 Head Insurance Agent
Maria Simonds 43 Wife
William Simonds 17 Son
John Simonds 11 Son
Charles Simonds 7 Son
Florence Simonds 21 Daughter
Elizabeth Simonds 10 Daughter

1901 Census

125 Forest Rd Hackney. Visiting possibly his maternal grandfather . Note this is Yates and the hint that the Army recorded his name incorrectly as John Gates Simonds instead of John Yates Simonds
John W Yates 49
Matilda J Yates 39
Edward Pickering 25
John Simmonds 22

1899 Marriage

1911 CENSUS

311 Cavendish Rd, Balham

Name Age
John Simonds 31 Milk Carrier
Florence Simonds 30
John Simonds 10
Florence Simonds 7
Elsie Simonds 3
Richard Page 57

WW1

John Gates Simonds, Private,13181, 13th Bn., 8th Bn., East Surrey Regiment

1915

• 24 July. Attested at Wandsworth, living at  311 Cavendish Rd Balham, occupation Carman age 36 years. Appointed to 13th Service Bn. East Surreys

1916

• John was to go first to France with the 13th Bn although his service records omit any entries in Casualty record there are however some hospital records proving he was there with the battalion. This from the history of the 13th Bn.

After training in southern England, the battalion landed at Le Harve on 4 June 1916.[1] They were then moved to Lens and from there with the 40th Division moved to the Hohenzollern Redoubt where they relieved the 12th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. They were not involved in major actions at the Hohenzollern Redoubt, but artillery bombardment was starting to take a toll, with casualties of 16%. The battalion was then put into reserve for the next months while the 40th Division was being relieved. The battalion was then temporarily attached to the 49th Division to help relieve the 4th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry at Hébuterne near the town of Albert, during the Battle of the Somme. They soon rejoined the 40th Division and marched to Bouchavesnes Area near the Somme Valley where they spent Christmas.

 

1917

• 12 February. After a series of small health issues in the trenches is bad enough to to be invalided back to England on the Hospital ship  Princess Elizabeth probably for some rest a nd recuperation.

  

• 8 June. Embarked for France with 13th Bn. arrived at Etaples 10 June.
• 29 June. Posted to the 8th Bn. East Surreys.
• 7 July. Joined the 8th Bn in Belgium in the Chateau Segard Area .

  

• 14 July. The 8th Bn goes into Brigade front line at Zillebeke.
• 19 July. A raid on enemy trenches resulted in 6 men killed and 7 wounded and 2 gassed.
• 20-25 July. Heavy period of bombardment casualties high 12 men killed and 33 wounded. Bn. relieved on the 26th July.
• 3-5 August. 8th Bn. moved to support line Sanctuary Woods.
• 9-10 August. 8th Bn. part of attack in the Dickiebusch support line took heavy casualties . Of the the battalions 44 men killed in this month most were killed in this attack. On the 11th August the 8th Bn was to moved out of the line to the West Wippenhoek area.
• September. The 8th Bn was behind the front lines at Zegers Camp and School Camp near Rubrock.

  

• 10-11 October. Poelcappelle. The 8th Bn moved up overnight for the attack.
  • The tape was laid out under enemy bombardment from Gloster Farm to Terrier Farm for the attack.

    

  • There were casualties before the attack started and 3 hrs into the attack an officer reported back progress of about 5ooyds had been through sevral machine gun posts which were still holding out
  • Situation very muddled all officers except three casualties . During the night Bn HQ had a direct hit killing five and wounding two. The battalion was eventually ordered to be relieved but many casualties
  • Casualties for this failed attack from the war diary report.

    

• 12 October. John is reported missing. but obviously his body was found in the next day or so and he was taken probably first to a Field Ambulance then to Dozinghem.some 21 kms behind the lines.
• 14 October. Confirmed died of wounds.. Gunshot wounds to the head at No 4 Casualty Clearing Centre at Dozinghem.

  

Medals

War Pension

Florence was awarded a one-time payment and a pension of 22 shillings 11 pence per week for herself and the children

Sources

1. 1. Ancestry  and BFA database
   2. War Diary 8th Bn., East Surreys 1917

Gallery

There are service records in the National archives for this person they can be viewed and download from their website https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/