Acting Corporal Percy James Speedie Simmonds
| Date of Birth | C.1891 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 26 |
| Date of Death | 27 December 1917 |
| Service Number | 202096 |
| Military Service | 2/4th Battalion Queen (Royal West Surrey) Regiment |
| Merton Address | 72 Garfield Road |
| Local Memorial | Mitcham War Memorial |
Additional Information
Percy was born in the first quarter of 1891 to parents James Speedie Simmonds, a Gamekeeper and Georgina. He was Baptised St. Peter & St. Paul in Mitcham on 7th Jun 1891, and the family address was listed as 10 Haverlock Road.
In 1901 Percy appears to be living with a relative Alfred Simmonds aged 29 listed as a Leading Stoker in the Royal Navy, and his wife Emma at 45 Edinburgh Road, Chatham in Kent. His mother Georgina now appears to be married to a William Leybourne.
On 26th May 1908, Percy now going by the name Percy Leybourne enlisted (with special authority from a person living at 50 Bath Road, Mitcham) in Kingston with the 3rd Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment and was given the service numbers of 17841 & 4507. He was described as having brown eyes and hair, a chest measurement of 33 inches and being 5ft 4 ¼ inches tall. His age was listed as 18 years and 3 months (but he would have been just 17 years of age).
By 1911, Percy’s mother Georgina and stepfather William were living at 50 Bath Road in Mitcham and had been married for 10 years.
Percy married Beatrice Elizabeth (Nee Kelly) at St. Peter & St Paul in Mitcham on 26th October 1913. His address was listed as 50 Bath Road, Mitcham and his father was listed as James Speedie Simmonds, Game Keeper deceased.
Percy and Beatrice had one child named Primrose Mary who was born 19th April 1916 and Baptised 4th June 1916 at Wimbledon All Saints church. His address at this time was 72 Garfield Road and Percy was listed as a Soldier with the 2/4 Battalion Queens (Royal West Surrey) having the rank of Acting Lance Corporal and service number T/202096
The 2/4th Regiment saw more varied service than any other of the Queens Battalions, in the Gallipoli campaign and in Egypt and Palestine.
Percy was killed in action on 27th December 1917. On this day his regiment war diaries list the following account:
“At dawn on the 27th the enemy bombarded our position on Zamby, White Hill and the Wall all morning in an attempt to gain a footing on these positions, but were rejected suffering heavy casualties from our artillery fire and from grenades, rifles and machine guns. The enemy succeeded, however in reaching the forward slopes of Zamby and worked their way round the southern side of White Hill. This rendered the position of our garrison on the reverse slope of White Hill untenable, and it accordingly withdrew down the Wall to zamby.”
“A small post on the forward crest of White Hill sheltered by small scrapes, was able to maintain its position until nightfall. The enemy did not occupy the crest of White Hill nor did they succeed in reaching our line on Zamby.”
“On the 28th the whole battalion moved into Brigade Reserve to the Russian Hospice and the remainder of the month was spent in salvaging and burying our dead.”
Percy was buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery Israel and Palestine. His name (and the name of a relative Frederick Simmonds who married Alice Leybourne) also appears on the Mitcham War Memorial.
(Percy’s wife remarried in 1919 to Albert Hendon and lived at 6 High St. Colliers Wood. By 1921 Percy’s daughter Primrose was aged 6 and had a half sister called Christine aged one.)