Name
Austin Simmons (poss Simon(s))
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/07/1918
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
S/7032
Seaforth Highlanders
6th Bn. (Ross-shire Buffs)
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. IMOGES CHURCHYARD
B.3.
France
Headstone Inscription
Greater love hath no man that gave his life for his friends
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Not on the Great Offley Village Memorial
Pre War
Born 1890 in Offley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarke, of Hitchin, Herts.
In the 1891 census he is recorded as living at Cottage, Harriss Lane, Offley age 1 with his mother, grandparents and their children. By 1891 (July to Sept Qtr) his mother Tamar Simons married John William CLARK in Hitchin registration district. In the 1901 census living at 17 Express Yard, Hitchin, age 11, with parents John William (age 31) a Postman & Tamur (age 38) Clark. They had 5 other children. Emily Beatrice, age 9, Thomas Charles, age 7, John William, age 5, Queenie Elizabeth Jane, age 3, & Nellie, age 1. All except Austin were born in Hitchin. In 1911 Austin was living as a boarder at 7 Exchange Yard, Hitchin. Born Offley. Master labourer, age 21. He married Nellie Chamberlain, of 33, Gloucester Place, Portland Square, London, W.1. in 1915.
He enlisted at the outbreak of war in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
He was initially in the Bedfordshire Regiment with the Regimental Number 12895 and went to France. Later, probably following recovery from wounds in the chest and thigh, he was transferred to the l/5th Battalion of the Seaforths with the Number S/7032. The Battalion was part of the 152nd Brigade in the 51st Division in XXII Corps. He died of wounds in France.
At the time of his death the Battalion was engaged in the Battle of Tardenois fighting in the Ardre Valley at Petit Camp Wood west of Rheims.
Additional Information
Birth record shows SIMONS, but CWGC as SIMON. A private inscription on the headstone reads "Greater love hath no man that gave his life for his friends".
Acknowledgments
Adrian Pitts, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
