George MacDonald Simms
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- Military History
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George MacDonald Simms was born in Lenton in 1882 and was the son of Elijah Augustus, a congregational minister, and Sarah Simms née Stevenson. His father Elijah was born in 1845 in Nottingham, his mother Sarah Stevenson was born in 1853 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. They were married in Nottingham in 1884 and went on to have 4 other children all of whom were born in Nottingham: Ada Annie b1873, Harold b1887, Dorothy Ethelwyn b1889 and Eric Oswald Simms b 24th September 1892. In 1911 census the family are living lived at 8 Canning Street, Nottingham, and are shown as Elijah 66 yrs a congregational minister, he is living with his wife Sarah 58 yrs and their children Ada 38 yrs an elementary school teacher, George MacDonald 35 yrs a commercial clerk, Harold 23 yrs a lace warehouseman, Dorothy 21 yrs a teacher and Eric Oswald 18 yrs a bank clerk. He was married to Harriett Butler on 24th April 1911 at the Congregational Church, Castle Gate Nottingham. They lived at 117 Exeter Road, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham.
Private George MacDonald Simms enlisted in Nottingham on 23rd March 1904; he was 18 years and 8 months of age and his occupation was that of a clerk. His next of kin was his father Elijah of the General Cemetery, Nottingham. He joined the 3rd battalion Grenadier Guards on 25th March 1904 in London and served with service number 11408. He served for three years and on the expiration of his time was discharged, he was now 21 yrs and 8 months of age, he was placed into the reserves. At the outbreak of the war he was mobilised on 5th August 1914 back into the Army. However, by the 20th October 1914 a medical board found him unfit for further military service due to chronic gastritis and he was discharged on 10th November 1914. His discharge address was the General Cemetery, Derby Road, Nottingham. He had served a total of 10 yrs and 236 days. Later during the war it would appear he once again enlisted or was called up; he initially served with the Army Ordnance Corps (033723) and later transferred to 1/5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. He was killed in action on 27th March 1918. He is buried in Assevillers New British Cemetery.(grave ref Xl.D.5)
Included on Castle Gate Congregational Church ROH January 1917: Private GMcD Simms, Gren. Guards (sic) (Nottinghamshire Archives ref DD2325/10) His brother Eric Oswald also served during the 'Great War' in the Royal Marines Artillery, he survived the war. Obituaries published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 27th March 1919 :- “SIMMS. – In tender and loving memory of my dear husband, George MacDonald Simms, killed in action March 27th, 1918. He gave his life for those he loved so dear. – Claude, Hettie. “SIMMS. – In loving remembrance of my dear uncle, George MacDonald Simms, who was killed in action March 27th, 1918. He have his life for those he loved so dear. – Claude [?] “SIMMS. – In loving memory of George MacDonald Simms, who was killed in action March 27th, 1918. A day of remembrance sad to recall. – Loving mother-in-law and aunties Above obituaries courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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