Name
Frank George Simmons
1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/04/1917
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
10695
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHILI TRENCH CEMETERY, GAVRELLE
Sp. Mem. C. 12.
France
Headstone Inscription
THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT
UK & Other Memorials
Memorial Plaque, St Lawrence Church, Bovingdon, Memorial Plaque, Memorial Hall, Bovingdon
Pre War
Francis George Simmons (known as Frank) was born on 2 June 1881 in Botley, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, the youngest child of Edward and Jane Simmons.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Moors Farm, Chesham, Bucks where his father was a farmer. They remained there in 1901, at which time Francis gave his occupation as Farmer's Son.
His parents died before the 1911 Census, his father in 1907 and his mother in 1908.
Wartime Service
Frank enlisted at Watford and joined the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. He was sent to France on 30 Jul 1915, arriving at Le Havre the following morning.
The Battalion fought in the Battles of the Somme in 1916, specifically the Battle of Bazentin Ridge in July and the Battle of Pozieres Ridge in August.
He was killed in action during the Battle of Arleux (part of the Battle of Arras) near Vimy Ridge on 28 April 1917. He is buried in Chili Trench Cemetery, Gavrelle, France.
Additional Information
Miss Annie Newman received his war gratuity of £13 10s and pay owing of £10 8s 7d. Frederick G H Smith was killed in the same battle and is also named on the Bovingdon Memorial in St Lawrence Church.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Malcolm Lennox, Dick West, www.bedfordregiment.org.uk
