Joshua Clifford (Cliff) SYMONS

SYMONS, Joshua Clifford

Service Number: 2968
Enlisted: 6 June 1916, 5 years AF Artillery, No 3 Battery, Young. Was appointed aCpl 11/9/1916 but reverted to ranks 10/1/1917
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 5th Infantry Battalion
Born: Young, New South Wales, Australia, 18 August 1888
Home Town: Young, Young, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: bookkeeper and typist
Died: 24 March 1932, aged 43 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW
METHODIST 4-01. 27.
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

6 Jun 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2968, 60th Infantry Battalion, 5 years AF Artillery, No 3 Battery, Young. Was appointed aCpl 11/9/1916 but reverted to ranks 10/1/1917
3 Nov 1916: Involvement Private, 2968, 60th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: ''
3 Nov 1916: Embarked Private, 2968, 60th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Sydney
8 Mar 1917: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, Army Pay Corps (AIF)
12 Feb 1918: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 37th Infantry Battalion
4 Apr 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2968, 37th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, GSW left thigh
8 Nov 1918: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 5th Infantry Battalion
1 May 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2968, 5th Infantry Battalion

Help us honour Joshua Clifford Symons's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Evan Evans

From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery

A Forgotten Digger of The Great War and Sandgate Cemetery.
88 years ago today, on the Thursday afternoon of the 24th March 1932, Private Joshua Clifford Symons (Cliff), 5th Battalion, bookkeeper and typist from Main Street, Young, New South Wales and Newcastle, N.S.W., father of one, was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 43. METHODIST 4-01. 27.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136882628
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136873183

Born at Young, New South Wales on the 18th August 1888 to Joseph and Margaret Symons; husband of Ethel May Symons nee Cox (married 1910, died?) of Auburn Street, Goulbourn, N.S.W. and 4 Wolseley Road, Mosman, N.S.W., Cliff enlisted June 1916 with the 60th Battalion at Goulbourn, N.S.W.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113628756
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113634563
Wounded in action - 4.4.1918 (GSW left thigh - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122425160), Mr Symons returned home March 1919 stating family reasons.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122432775
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122434308

His name has been inscribed on the Young Soldiers Memorial Clock Tower & Memorial Boards, Young Uniting Church Roll of Honor and the Wallendbeen Memorial Obelisk.

For 87 years Cliff had been resting in an unmarked grave, forgotten, so July 2019 I placed a cross adorned with poppies to honour his service for God, King and Country.
http://sandgate.northerncemeteries.com.au/index.php/war-heroes/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103&aso=exact&s_f=id&data_search=444456#grave-photo-1

I will be submitting an application for a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque, curbing and marble chip very soon.
Lest We Forget.

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