No.7854, Lance Sergeant, Maurice Frederick SYMONDS
Aged 26
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Maurice Frederick Symonds was born in Swaffham Prior in 1889 (Newmarket Q3-1899 3B:523), baptised in St Mary's, Swaffham Prior on 14th July 1899, son of
Augustus and Louisa SYMONDS (née CRASKE).
1891 census...Aged 1, he was at Vicarage Lane, Swaffham Prior with his father Augustus SYMONDS[30] gardener born Shimpling Thorne,Suffolk; his mother Louisa [31] born Shimpling Thorne; brothers Leonard [3] and Harold [3 months]; sister Margaret J [3]. All the children were born in Swaffham Prior. His mother died in 1893 and his father married Agnes Georgina GILLSON in Q1-1894 (Newmarket 3B:817) 1901 census...Aged 11, he was at High Street, Swaffham Prior with his father and step-mother Agnes [30] born Cheveley; sister Louisa [9] and half sister Gertrude [4]; half brothers Frederick [2] and William [5 months]. Brother Leonard was at Egerton House, Stetchworth. 1911 census...Aged 24 ? he was in India with the North Staffordshire Regiment. His number indicates enlistment towards the end of 1904. Brother Leonard was overseas with the Royal Garrison Artillery. His father and stepmother were at High Street, Swaffham Prior with half brothers Frederick, William, Cecil [9] and John [11 months] and half sisters Dorothy [8] and Gladys [6]. Augustus and Agnes had 11 children but 4 had died. |
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He enlisted in Cambridge.
Bailleul was an important railhead, air depot and hospital centre, with the 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 11th, 53rd, 1st Canadian and 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Stations quartered there. As his Army records have not survived, there is no way of saying where and when he was wounded. Three of his battalion chums died there the same day. On the night of 16th-17th July 1916 the Germans launched a gas attack against the British 24th Division who were positioned between Wijtschaete and Messines. As the night was bright the British sentries could see the gas cloud as it drifted across No Man's Land towards them. The British donned their gas masks and prepared for the German attack which followed. It was driven off but casualties were high; 562 gas cases and 95 deaths. This may very well have been the cause of Maurice's death   photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
