Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Frederick Simmons, a general labourer, born 1860 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and his wife Emma Simmons (nee Pepper, married in the 3rd quarter of 1882 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born 1862 in Loughborough. Frederick was born in the 4th quarter of 1890 in Loughborough, his siblings were, Samuel, a schoolboy, born 1884 and Florence, a schoolgirl, born 1885, both his siblings were born in Loughborough, in April 1891 the family home was at Union Street, Loughborough. In March 1901 Frederick was residing in the family home at 53, Ashby Square, Loughborough, together with his father, a boatman, his mother and siblings, Florence, a hosiery trade winder, Ernest, born 1894, Harold, born 1897 and Clarice, born 1901, the latter three siblings were all born in Loughborough. In April 1911 Frederick was absent from the family home at 7, Cross Street, Loughborough, residing there was his father, a boatman and labourer, his mother and siblings, Samuel, a boatman and labourer, Florence a hosiery trade winder, Ernest, a foundry labourer, Harold, an iron moulder, Clarice, a schoolgirl and Lawrence, born 1909 in Loughborough, Frederick was employed as a driller and was residing at 20, Queen Street, Loughborough together with his wife Mary Kate Simmons (nee Hill, married in the 2nd quarter of 1909 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1887 in Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire and their daughter, Gladys, born on the 23rd February 1910 in Leicestershire, on the 11th March 1913 a second daughter, Sylvia was born in Loughborough, Leicestershire.
Frederick attested into the Militia to serve an engagement of 6 years on the 8th July 1907 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. He gave his place of birth as All Saints, Loughborough, Leicestershire, his age as 17 years and 10 months and his trade or calling as riveter, his present employer being, Mr. W. Coltman, Loughborough, Leicestershire. He gave his home address as 7, Cross Street, All Saints, Loughborough, Leicestershire. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father Frederick, mother Emma, brothers, Samuel, Ernest and Harold and sisters Florence and Clarice, all of 72, Cross Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4½ inches in height, weighed 106 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 30and 34 inches. It was noted that he had a scar about the centre and outer aspect of his left forearm, and a scar on the inner aspect of his left knee. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was light brown and he had grey eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Militia on the 9th July 1907 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 9770 on the 8/7/07. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and commenced 49 days drill on the 8/7/07. Joined the Regular Army (King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) on the 13/9/07. Frederick attested into the Army Reserve for an engagement of 1 year on the 21st August 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Loughborough, Leicestershire, his age as 25 years and 343 days and his trade or calling as blacksmith. He stated that he was married. He confirmed that he had previously served for 3 years with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He gave his wife Mary Simmons, daughters Gladys and Sylvia all of 22, Loughborough Cottages, Loughborough Road, Belgrave, Leicester as his next of kin.
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 6½ inches in height, weighed 128 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 36½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was dark brown and he had blue eyes. It was noted that he had tattoos of clasped hands and a dagger on his right forearm and a woman and flags on his left forearm. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army Reserve on the 21st August 1914 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 11799 on the 21/8/14. Posted to the Depot, Leicestershire Regiment and commenced recruits training on the 21/8/14. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 2/9/14. Suffered a severe shrapnel wound to his eye, face and arm on the ?/5/15. Joined the 8th Entrenching Battalion on the 23/4/16. Admitted 74th Field Ambulance on the 24/4/16. Admitted No.11 General Hospital, Camiers on the 26/4/16. Joined -?- Battalion on the 24/5/16. Sentenced to 14 days field punishment No.1 for drunkenness on the 21/8/16. Admitted to 16th Field Ambulance on the 13/7/17. Posted to the Depot, Leicestershire Regiment on the 22/7/17. Posted to the 3rd Reserve Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 8/12/17. Posted to the 11th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 6/1/18. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 11/1/18. Officially accepted as a Prisoner of War in Germany on the 16/9/18. Died of pneumonia in hospital in Germany on the 23/10/18. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 21/8/14 – 3/1/15, 136 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 4/1/15 – 6/5/15, 123 days. Home Service, 7/5/15 – 12/4/16, 341 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 13/4/16 – 21/7/17, 1 year 100 days. Home Service, 22/7/17 – 4/1/18, 167 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 5/1/18 – 22/3/18, 77 days. Prisoner of War, Germany, 23/3/18 – 23/10/18, 215 days. Frederick was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. Frederick’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
On Saturday May 15th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTER SOLDIERS WOUNDED.” – Information has been received that Private Fredk. Simmons, of the 2nd Leicester’s, was wounded on May 8th at Neuve Chapelle, and is now in hospital at Bagthorpe, Notts. His wife and two children live at 22, Loughborough Cottages, Belgrave. Private Simmons was wounded in the right eye and left arm by a shell.