Private Charles Henry Simons
49282 1/5th Batallion Leicestershire Regiment
Charles Henry Simons was born in 1895 at Gleadless, Sheffield son of John Robert Simons a coal miner contractor born Buckinghamshire and his wife Ann Maria (nee Young) born Riddings. In 1911 the family was living at Alma Street, Selston with children John Truman, Charles Henry, then aged 15 and employed as a coal miner, and Cyril all born in Yorkshire and then Clifford, Annie, Amy, Edna and Robert all born at Selston. By 1911 eleven children had been born to the family of whom 8 had survived, one child who had died was named Redvers, the names of the others are not known.
In 1916 Charles married May Pirdue a Brinsley girl and after the war they had children Edna, Cyril, Jack and Ivy.
Charles is listed on the Absent Voters Roll of 1918/1919 which lists him as absent from Albert Avenue, Jacksdale. The roll gives his service details and regiment but little else has been forthcoming about his time in the military. He was recipient of the British War and Victory Medals.
Charles and May later lived at 124, Wagstaff Lane, Jacksdale.