William Henry Sims
Known as Bill.
Lorry Driver for Mr Armstrong, Cromwell Street, Mansfield and then for Mansfield Corporation.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Son of Frederick (Fred) and Esther Sims of 46 Ravensdale Road, Mansfield.
Siblings:Edmund (1910), Violet (1921), Charles (1922), Stanley (1924), Daisy (1926) and Frank (1928).
Married Jessie Powers Smithurst on 2nd November 1937, the day before Jessie's 23rd birthday. Their son, Brian W, was born in early 1938. In 1939 they where living at 30 Dale Street, Mansfield.
Jessie married Patrick McGarry in 1945 and she died in 1952. Brian died in 2015.
Bill was captured in the Middle East in June 1942 and was being taken to Italy as a Prisoner of War when the ship he was on was sunk by a British submarine.
S.S. Scillin sailed from Tripoli on 13th November 1942 she was attacked by H.M submarine Sahib the next day and she sank very quickly. On board there were 815 Allied P.O.Ws. Only 26 British & 1 South African POW survived plus 35 members of the Italian crew and were picked up by the Sahib and landed in Malta. Most of the men were being held in closed holds and drowned. The commander of the Sahib, Lt Bromage, was cleared by the enquiry into the sinking. However it wasn't until 1996 that the truth about the sinking was acknowleged by the Ministry of Defence.
Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser. 13/6/1942: Driver William Sims R.A.S.C
Mrs Sims, wife of Driver William Sims RASC 29 years of age of 30 Dale Street, Mansfield received notification last Saturday that her husband was missing in the Middle East on 28th June.
He served abroad for 18 months in that area. He was a lorry driver for Mr Armstrong, Cromwelll Street. His parents reside at 46 Ravensdale Road, Mansfield. He has a boy, four years old.
Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser. 15/11/1945: Roll of Honour
Sims: Treasured memories of our dear Bill, killed on November 14th 1943, loving Mum, Dad, rian Brothers and Sisters.
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