William Robert SIMONS

28 July 1916

SUTTON – MEMBER OF A PATRIOTIC FAMILY KILLED

Mrs. Simons, of Wighill St., Holmfield, Sutton-in-Craven, received an intimation from the War Office on Sunday that her son, Pte. Richard Whitehall, had been killed in action on the 1st, of July. Another of her sons, Segt. Tom Whitehall, was wounded on the same day as his brother was killed, and is at present in the Military Hospital at Manchester, suffering from wounds in the arm. Pte. R. Whitehall was 34 years of age, and served through the Boer War in the 5th Royal Irish Lancers, without receiving so much as a scratch. He, along with his brother Tom, joined the East Lancashire Regiment when the War broke out. Mrs. Simons has two other sons serving with the Forces–James Whitehall, who also fought in the Boer War, has been in the Navy about 13 years, and is somewhere out on the deep; and Joseph Whitehall is with the 5th Royal Irish Lancers, and went to France with the British Expeditionary Force.

Mr. Simons has three sons serving with the Forces and a son-in-law, this making eight members of the family serving their King and Country. Leonard Simons, his eldest son, joined the West Riding Regiment at the outbreak of hostilities; Willie Simons was a member of the West Riding Territorials at the outbreak of war, and is a member of the Regimental Band, as also is his brother-in-law Joseph Godfrey, and Charles Simon was called up for service just recently and is with the West Riding Regiment. Mr. Simons is himself an old soldier. He served for 17 years in the Army, being a colour-sergeant and instructor in the 2nd Leicester Regiment, and was 11 years in India. He is now employed by the State as a postman in the Cross Hills Post Office. He is a Sergeant Instructor to the Local Volunteer Training Corps, and is doing excellent service in training these men.

08 June 1917

SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN – MEMBER OF A PATRIOTIC FAMILY MISSING

Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Simons, of Wighill Street, Holmfield, Sutton-in-Craven, have received information from two unofficial sources that their son, Pte. Willie Simons, of the West Riding Regiment, has been missing since an engagement on the 3rd of May. No official intimation has yet been received. Pte. Simons was one of a hand of patriotic brothers who responded nobly to their country’s call. The eldest member of the family, Pte. Leonard Simons (junior), who is in the West Riding Regiment, joined up at the outbreak of hostilities, and Pte. Willie Simons was in the Territorials at the commencement of the War, subsequently becoming a member of the Regimental Band. He went out to France with his Battalion about two months ago. Another son, Pte. Charles Simons, is also in the West Yorkshire Regiment, and has been home on a last leave during the week. He joined the Forces about July of last year. The youngest member of Mr. Simon’s family, Pte. Sam Simons, is at present on the British front in France, having been out with his regiment since Christmas, after two months’ training. In the early days of the war Pte. Sam Simons tried to join the Navy, but was rejected on account of a weak eye. Mr. Simons has also a son-in-law, Pte. Joseph Godfray, out ‘somewhere in France’ doing his bit with the West Ridings.

Mrs. Simons has also three sons and a son-in-law serving their King and Country, and has lost one son, Pte. Richard Whitehall, who was killed in action on the 1st of July last year. Another of her sons, Sergeant Tom Whitehall, was wounded on the same day as his brother was killed, and was sent to the Military Hospital at Manchester suffering from wounds in the arm. On recovering from his wounds, Sergt. Whitehall rejoined his unit, and is at the present time with the Forces at Salonika. James Whitehall, another son of Mrs. Simons, who fought in the Boer War, is with the Navy out on the mighty deep, and has been in the Navy for 13 years.

He took part in the Jutland battle, being on His Majesty’s first-class battle cruiser the Duke of Edinburgh, which came successfully out of the fight. He was recently home on leave. Joseph Whitehall is with the ----- Royal Irish Lancers and went to France with the British Expeditionary Force, and has not been home on leave for over two years. Mrs. Simons has a son-in-law, Pte. Albert Turbit, who joined a line regiment last week, and is now in training with his regiment.

Mr. Simons is himself an old soldier. He served for 17 years in the Army, being a colour-sergeant and instructor in the 2nd Leicester Regiment, and was 11 years with his regiment in India. He is now employed by the State as a postman in the Crosshills Post Office. He has rendered yeoman service to the local platoon of the West Riding Volunteers as drill instructor.

Mr. and Mrs. Simons will be very glad to hear from anyone concerning their son.

22 June 1917

SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN – PRIVATE WILLIE SIMONS A PRISONER OF WAR

Mr. and Mrs. Simons, of Wighill Street, Holmfield, have received information from their son, Pt. Willie Simons, informing them that he is a wounded prisoner of war in Bavaria. The letter which Pte. Simon sends is as follows:–

“13th May, 1917. Reserve Lazarette I, Remise IV, Ingolstad, Bavaria.

“Dear Father and Mother, – Still going on all right. Wounds doing fine, but shall not be up for a few weeks yet. The next news you will get will be a letter. I shall be able to tell you more. Enquire about sending a parcel as I don’t think you are allowed, as they have to come through the Red Cross.”

Mr. and Mrs. Simons received this information on Sunday morning. Their son has been missing since the 3rd of May. He was in the West Riding Regiment, and was in the local Territorials when war broke out, going out with his battalion to the Front in France about three months ago. He was one of a noble band of brothers who responded magnificently to their country’s call.

15 February 1918

SIMONS – Died while a prisoner of war in Germany, and interred December 13th, 1917, Private Willie Simons, West Riding Regiment, formerly of Sutton-in-Craven.

15 February 1918

SUTTON-IN-CRAVEN – ANOTHER VICTIM OF HUN TREATMENT: FAMILY’S FINE RECORD

The residents of Sutton were deeply moved last weekend when it became known that another member of a well-known family had died whilst a prisoner of war in Germany. Private Willie Simons, who was in the West Riding Regiment, was called up at the outbreak of hostilities, being a member of the Territorials, and he went out to France nearly a year ago. Prior to going abroad he was a member of the Regimental Band. He was posted as missing after an engagement on the 3rd of May last, but subsequently his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Simons, of Wighill Street, Sutton Mill, learned that he was a prisoner of war in Germany.

The sad news of his death was conveyed in a letter from a French pastor as follows:– “I wish to send to the parents of their dear son Simons the respectful and warmest words of human sympathy and Christian consolation, and to do it also in the name of the 12 English comrades who were present at the burial of their companion. We brought him yesterday afternoon (13th December) to his last resting place, and stood on the ground around with very filled hearts, giving thanks to God for his sweet departure, thinking of his father and mother, and how heavy and hard it would be having to leave their beloved son after hoping to recover him, and without giving to him the last marks of their love. Our silent prayers presented them to the Lord of all graces, whose love is the only sufficient comfort in affliction. The glorious and hopeful words of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Corinthians, which were read on the grave, brought to our remembrance the blessed realities which our friend sees now and dwells in, and we willingly said Amen when the last prayer of the Book of Common Prayer was at its end. May our God and Father assist his sorrowing children in the dark hours and keep them in His love and mercy and comforting presence. HENRI WESPHAL, French Pastor, Ingolstadt.”

Private Simons was one of several patriotic brothers who nobly responded to their country’s call. The oldest member of the family, Private Leonard Simons (junior), and Private Charles Simons, are in the West Riding Regiment, and the youngest member of the family, Private Sam Simons, is at present on the Western Front, having gone out with his regiment at Christmas 1916. He tried to join up in the early days of the war, but was rejected on account of a weak eye. Mr. Simons has also a son-in-law, Private Joseph Godfrey, serving with the West Ridings. Mrs. Simons has also three sons and a son-in-law serving their King and Country, and has lost one son, Private Richard Whitehall, killed in action on the 1st of July 1916. Another of her sons, Sergeant Tom Whitehall, was wounded in the arm on the same day as his brother was killed, and was sent to the Military Hospital at Manchester. On recovering he rejoined this unit, and went out to Salonica. James Whitehall, another son of Mrs. Simons, who fought in the Boer War, is with the Navy, having been a sailor for 13 years. He took part in the famous Jutland battle. Joseph Whitehall is with the Royal Irish Lancers in France and Mrs. Simons has also a son-in-law, Albert Turbit, who is in a line regiment.

The children have no doubt caught the patriotic spirit from their father, for he is himself an old soldier, having served 17 years in the Army, being a Colour-Sergeant and instructor in the 2nd Leicester Regiment. He was 11 years in India. He is now a Company Sergeant Major in the local Volunteers, and acts as drill instructor to the local platoons.