Alfred Edward SIMMONDS

SIMMONDS, Alfred Edward. Private 5/66668 52nd Graduate Battalion, Durham Light Infantry died 24th February 1918. At rest in Wolverhampton Cemetery, Staffordshire.
52nd (Graduated) Battalion. Up to 27 October 1917, this was known as 273rd Graduated Battalion and had no regimental affiliation. Before that it had been 86th Battalion of the Training Reserve and up to September 1916 had been the 31st (Reserve) Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers. A training unit based at Chelmsford, it was part of 220th Brigade in 73rd Division. In March 1918 when 73rd Division was broken up it went to 206th Brigade of 69th Division at Stockton. Moved to Guisborough in March 1918 and in autumn went on to Catterick. Some notes from what remains of his army record. He enlisted on the 16th March 1917 at Lichfield, Staffordshire aged 17 years and 350 days. He lived with parents Albert Arthur and Susan of 48, Middle Vauxhall of Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton, formerly of 25, Middle Vauxhall. He was born on the 12th March 1899 and was at some stage stationed at Brocton Camp. Cannock Chase, Staffordshire. On the 24th February 1918 he died of Pneumonia and Meningitis at Yarn Road Military Hospital, Darlington and he was laid to rest on the 1st March 1918 at Wolverhampton Cemetery, about 70 yeard from the gateway entrance on the right hand side.