Name
Miriam Florence Simms
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
06/08/1941
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Civilian
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Hitchin Urban District Cemetery
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
See biography
UK & Other Memorials
St. Saviour's Church Memorial, Hitchin, Hitchin Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945 (Book) St Mary’s Church, Hitchin
Biography
Mrs Simms has been included as her name appears on the St. Saviour's Church War Memorial.
She was killed when a number of high explosive bombs were dropped by a lone German raider, one of which exploded on a semi-detached house in Orchard Road, Walsworth. In addition., Mrs Florence Pepper (Miriam's mother), Mrs Elizabeth Simms (Miriam's mother-in-law) and Joseph Organ (a twelve year old) were all injured. There were also several casualties in adjacent houses. Osborne's bakery at the end of the road was damaged but was not closed.
She was buried in Hitchin Cemetery and the stone reads "In loving memory of our dear sister Miriam Florence Simms killed by enemy action 6th August 1941 aged 23 years". The gravestone also remembers her brother Reg Pepper B.E.M. and his wife Vi.
Additional Information
The headstone reads:
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF OUR DEAR SISTER MIRIAM FLORENCE SIMMS
KILLED BY ENEMY ACTION 6TH AUGUST 1941
AGED 23 YEARS
ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS
AND HER BROTHER REG PEPPER B.E.M
1913 - 1995
FOREVER IN OUR THOUGHTS
ALSO HIS BELOVED WIFE VI
1921 - 1997
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, Mrs Pauline Smith of Hitchin, Mrs Joan Turner of St. Albans, Paul Johnson - local historian, Herts Pictorial dated 12th August 1941
