SIMMONS, Norman Thomas
| Service Number: | 4899 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 October 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 59th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Kyneton, Victoria, Australia, 28 April 1894 |
| Home Town: | Mildura, Mildura Shire, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Mildura State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Grocer / Salesman |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kyneton War Memorial, Mildura Cenotaph, Mildura Primary School War Memorial, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4899, Depot Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4899, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire A18, Melbourne | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4899, 59th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
Help us honour Norman Thomas Simmons's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Peter Sunners
Norman Thomas Simmons was born in Kyneton,Victoria in 1895. He was one of eight children born to Thomas Henry ("Doc") Simmons and Margaret King.
Thomas Henry (Doc) Simmons arrived in Australia in 1882 aboard the sailing ship, True Briton after a journey of seventeen weeks. He had in his charge for the journey six draught horses, a much sought after animal in the colony at that time. They were sold after his arrival and he moved to Kyneton, Victoria where he opened a livery stable.
Margaret King came to Australia with her family in 1868 on the ship White Star. She was one of five children and this family also settled in Kyneton,Victoria. Thomas and Margaret were married in Kyneton in 1883.
By 1901 Thomas’ livery business was not performing well because of – “Inability to collect outstanding accounts in his late business as livery-stable proprietor, sickness in the family, and dulness of trade.” (The Argus, Melbourne,Tuesday 30 July 1901)
In 1904 the family moved to Mildura, Victoria where Thomas opened a vet business and became one of the settlement's most popular and familiar figures and an authority on horse breeding in North-western, Victoria.
Norman was educated at Mildura State School and on leaving he became a grocer working for a Mr. Frazer before enlisting in the Army in October 1915. He was twenty years old.
His unit, the 59th Battalion embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 7 March 1916 bound for the Western Front.
On 19 July 1916 they were part of the Battle of Fromelles and Norman became listed as Missing In Action and following a Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 29 August 1917, he was pronounced as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.
His family were devastated and his mother wrote numerous letters to the Red Cross hoping that he was a Prisoner of War and would be found. They also included letters to him and parcels for him.
Following the battle the Germans buried the dead in mass graves and in 2008 and subsequent years many were found and exhumed to try and identify them for individual burial.
Norman Thomas Simmons has not been identified to date.
He is remembered on the headstone of his mother’s grave in Kyneton Cemetery, Victoria.
In loving memory of
LIONEL JOHN SIMMONS
Died 6th. FEB 1901
Aged 2 years
Also
NORMAN THOMAS SIMMONS
Killed in France
19th. JULY 1916. Aged 21 years
Also MARGARET
Wife of T.H.SIMMONS
Died 6th. FEB 1920
Aged 57 years
Also JANE KING sister of above
Click images to start slideshow.