John Thomas Sims
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John Thomas Sims was born in Whitwell, Derbyshire in 1896. His parents were John and Elizabeth Sims, a local couple who originated from nearby Staveley and Bolsover. Their first child, George Levi, was born in Bolsover before moving to Whitwell where John worked as a miner in the local pit. The couple had seven children in all, the other five being, Mabel Alice born 1898, Richard James 1900, Charles Henry 1902, Betsy Hannah 1904 and, Elizabeth Ann 1907 all born in Whitwell. By 1911, John Thomas, ( called Thomas in his army records ) was 15 years old and working in the pit as a underground pit pony driver. At some stage after this, the family moved to Worksop where John Thomas was a fully fledged miner at Manton colliery before enlist at Worksop.
Lance Corporal J. T. Sims Worksop Guardian 7 December 1917 The sad news of the death in action of Lance Corporal John Thomas Sims, has been received by his mother, Mrs. Sims, wife of Mr. J. Sims, of 1 Ryton Terrace, Retford Road, Worksop. It is in the form of a letter from the deceased’s Commanding Officer, who stated that on the 20th November, he was hit by a piece of shell, and his death was instantaneous. He was a stretcher bearer in my Company, and was a most excellent man at all times. He was a splendid example of a soldier to all his comrades, and will be much missed by the officers and men in this Company. He was buried as comfortably as possible under the circumstances, along with four of his comrades, and a cross was placed on their grave. Lance Corporal Sims was in the Sherwood Foresters, and was 21 years of age. He joined the army in September, 1914. Previous to joining the forces, he worked at Manton Colliery, and he was a well known member of the Manton Rovers Football Club. Deceased brother, Levi Sims, was discharged from the army in September this year. Another brother, Richard James, is a sailor on H.M.S. ‘Myrtle’. Previous to coming to this neighbourhood five years ago, the family lived at Hodthorpe. Much sympathy is felt with the relatives of the deceased
CWG additional information:- Son of John and Elizabeth Sims, of 1, Ryton Terrace, Retford Rd., Worksop. Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Research by Colin Dannatt
