Herbert John Simonds

A Private with the 1/1st Battalion, Herbert died on 21st of March 1917 at the age of 38. 

Herbert was born at Langmere, Norfolk, in 1879, a son of Robert Beart and Ellen Simonds. In 1881 they lived at Gissing, Norfolk, and by 1891 the family had moved to Lowestoft and lived at 94 London Road, Kirkley. Later his parents lived at Diss, Norfolk.

In 1901 Herbert had a confectionery shop at 17 Saint Peters Street. In 1906 Herbert married Lily Tredgill at Eye, Suffolk. In 1911 their home was at 17 Saint Peters Street where they ran a tobacconist and confectionery shop.  

Herbert enlisted in the Army at Bury St. Edmunds. He joined the Cambridgeshire Regiment, service number 7853. Later he was renumbered 329157. He served with the 3/1st Battalion before being posted to France to serve with the 1/1st Battalion. 

At some point Herbert was attached to the 2nd Entrenching Battalion. No details can be found of when, or how, Herbert was wounded. As Herbert is buried at Vlamertinghe it is likely that he died at one of the Field Ambulances that were in the town in 1917.