Private William James SIMMONS, G/18593, "D" Company, 7th Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died as a Prisoner of War, in the Feldlaz at Queant, Germany on 15th January 1917, age 37.

29th September 1878, Wartling, Sussex, baptism of William James Simmons, son of William John & Louisa Simmons.

26th July 1906, Brighton Register Office, married Minnie Southwell, spinster, 23, Gloucester Street, Brighton, Sussex.

Children - William Frank Reginald Simmons, born 1st June 1907, West Brighton; Kathleen May Simmons, born 11th December 1908, East Brighton;

1911 Census - 23, Gloucester Street, Brighton, Sussex. - William James Simmons, head, age 32, married, furniture porter, auctions room, worker, born Wartling, Sussex; Minnie Simmons, wife, age 28, married 5 years, 2 children, both still alive, born Brighton, Sussex; William Frank Reginald Simmons, son, age 3, born Brighton, Sussex; Kathleen May Simmons, daughter, age 2, born Brighton, Sussex; Frederick Simpson, boarder, age 67, widower, art dealer, own account, born Brighton, Sussex.

Children - Irene Joy Simmons, born 20th October 1915, West Brighton.

Enlisted Brighton, Sussex, age 36 years, 11 months, 28 days.  Resided 23, Gloucester Street, Brighton, Sussex. Formerly auctioneer.

Home 11th December 1915 to 3rd October 1916; BEF 4th October 1916 to 15th January 1917.

11th December 1915, enlisted; 12th December 1915, to Army Reserve; 14th June 1916, mobilized; 16th June 1916, posted 16th Royal Fusiliers, Service No.42034; 1st September 1916, transferred to 22nd Training Reserve Battalion;  4th October 1916, posted BEF & 26th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers; 4th October 1916, embarked; 14th October 1916, transferred to Royal West Kent Regiment; 14th October 1916, posted 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 18th November 1916, posted missing; Germany, Prisoner of War.

15th July 1917, date when Separation Allowance of 24/6 a week & Allotment of Pay of 3/6 a week, payable to wife, will cease.

26th November 1917, pension of 26/3 a week awarded to widow & three children.

14th June 1920, Statement of Relatives - Widow, Mrs M Simmons, 23 Gloster Street, Brighton; Children - W F R Simmons, 1st June 1907, 23 Gloster Street, Brighton; K M Simmons, 11th December 1908, 23 Gloster Street, Brighton; I J Simmons,  20th October 1915, 23 Gloster Street, Brighton; Father, deceased; Motherm deceased; Brothers - C Simmons, Chapel Row, Hertmonceux;  Sisters - none.

Buried at Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension, IV. N. 3., France. Commemorated Brighton War Memorial.

This page was last updated on 14-Aug-2022.

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