Name
Arthur Simmonds
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/06/1916
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14867
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DARTMOOR CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT
I. C. 35.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Elstree memorials, Iver War Memorial, St Peters Church, Iver, Bucks
Pre War
Arthur was born in 1892 in Iver, Bucks, the second son of Charles Simmonds, a gardener, and Fanny (nee Dewdney).
On the 1901 Census the Family were living at Iver Farm, Iver. There were 4 brothers and 3 sisters. On the 1911 Census Arthur, aged 18, was listed as a compositor for a letter press printer. Both his parents and brother, Edwin Charles later lived in Elstree.
Wartime Service
Arthur enlisted at Marylebone, London. He was posted to 9th (Service) Battalion of King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry which had been formed in Pontefract in Sep 1914 but spent time training in the Berkhampstead and Tring area.
He went to France on 11 Sep 1915 with the Battalion as part of 21 Division deployment. He was soon in action at the battle of Loos (25 Sep - 8 Oct 1915). The 21st Division transferred to the Somme area in preparation for the postponed opening Battle of Albert on the 1 Jul 1916. Arthur was killed in action on the 9 Jun 1916 while on the Somme Battlefield.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £7 10s and arrears of £2 15s 10d was paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
