Name
Alfred Septimus Simmonds
1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
M2/032143
Army Service Corps
Motor Transport
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
NA
Pre War
Alfred Simmonds was born in the spring of 1880 at Great Berkhamsted. He was one of nine children (seven sons and two daughters) born to Alfred (senior) and Amy Simmonds. Around the time of his birth the family lived at Chapel Street, Berkhamsted, and Alfred (senior) worked as a Plumber. At the time of the 1891 Census the family lived at Belgrave Villa, Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead. Alfred (senior) continued to work as a Plumber, and by the time of the 1901 Census he was listed as a Plumber/Employer, indicating that his business had grown. The family was recorded living at Belgrave Villa in the 1901 Census, and Alfred (junior) was listed working as an Insurance Agent and has a listing in the 1902 Kellys Directory for Kings Langley as insurance agent.
Alfred married Lillian Rose Hall in 1902 in Watford registration district (including Kings Langley) and on the 1911 Census they were living at Pimlico, Abbots Langley, Hemel Hempstead, where he worked as a House Painter. No children are recorded . They later lived at 17 St John's Road, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead, Herts.
Wartime Service
He was recorded for the first time in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in January 1915, serving with the Machine Gun Service. From December 1915 to April 1916 Alfred was not recorded in the Roll of Honour, but continued to be listed with the Machine Gun Service from April 1916, through to December 1916.
Medal Index Cards show that he was serving with the Royal Army Service Corps and served in France from 29 March 1915.
Once again he was not recorded for the whole of 1917, and the reason for this is unknown. In the January 1918 Roll of Honour Alfred was recorded again, but was listed serving with the Motor Transport Army Service Corps (MTASC). It is possible that he had been wounded during 1917, and thus did not appear, and when he returned to service was unfit for Front Line duty, and served with the MTASC. Alfred continued to serve with the MTASC throughout 1918, and was recorded in the Absent Voter Records for Autumn 1918 and Spring 1919 serving with the 244th MTASC.
Alfred Simmonds survived the war and died in 1955.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
