SIMONSON, Eric Loudon
| Service Number: | 250203 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 June 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Squadron Leader |
| Last Unit: | Air Defence Headquarters (Melbourne) |
| Born: | Brighton, Victoria, Australia, 23 January 1894 |
| Home Town: | Auburn, Boroondara, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Student - Engineering |
| Died: | St. Kilda, Victoria, Australia, 17 July 1954, aged 60 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne Ashes interred in the Tristania area, Wall 4CC, Niche 147 and held in perpetuity for all time |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Sep 1915: | Embarked 8th Infantry Battalion, SS Makarini, Melbourne | |
| 15 Sep 1915: | Involvement 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: SS Makarini embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 28 Nov 1915: | Transferred AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 14th Infantry Battalion, From 8th Battalion | |
| 20 Feb 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 14th Infantry Battalion | |
| 18 Jan 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), From 14th Battalion | |
| 25 Feb 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), Discharged at the 3rd Military District |
World War 2 Service
| 20 Dec 1939: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flying Officer, 250203 | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 1945: | Discharged Royal Australian Air Force, Squadron Leader, 250203, Air Defence Headquarters (Melbourne) |
Help us honour Eric Loudon Simonson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Address at the time of enlistment was Auburn Road, Auburn, Victoria
Son of Max Michaelis Simonson and Sarah Maria Simonson nee Moss of St. James Street, Melbourne, Victoria. Brother of Belle Doris Simonson, Paul William Simonson OBE, MID who returned to Australia on 28 September 1919 having served with the 22nd Battalion, Leopold Jon Simonson, Amalia Vera Simonson and Karl Jacob simonson who was later named as next of kin
Commenced return to Australia on 19 November 1919 aboard HT Ormonde
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
During 1923c Eric married Olive Marjorie Jenkins in Victoria
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
An engineering student when he enlisted in 1915, Eric Landon Simonson transferred to the Australian Flying Corps in 1918 after serving with the 14th Battalion AIF in France for almost two years. Eric Simonson had a close relationship with his uncle, General John Monash and he was an aide-de-camp (ADC) to General Monash for much of this time. Eric followed his uncle into Engineering, and Monash helped him with his studies, advising him that ‘steady conscientious work…a good and wide education is the very best asset, better than wealth and influence.’ Simonson was promoted to Captain on 15 March 1917.
Eric was posted to No. 2 Squadron, AFC as an S.E.5a pilot in France on 15 May 1918 and shot down one Pfalz D.XII and four Fokker D.VIIs by the end of the war, thus officially becoming an ‘ace’. He returned to Australia with the rank of Captain during November 1919, travelling with his famous uncle John Monash. Also traveling with them was General Birdwood, and they were welcomed home to Melbourne on Boxing Day.
Eric Simonson also served as a Squadron Leader in the RAAF for much of WW2.
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