2499 Private John Henry Fitzsimmons 2nd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment
- Amanda T
- May 24, 2020
- 6 min read
Identification
The CWGC database has two John H Fitzsimmons but one was Canadian and UK Soldiers in the Great War showed that the other J H Fitzsimmons was from Liverpool.
Family Information
John Henry Fitzsimmons was born on 9th August 1878 at 8 Sim Street, Liverpool to Henry (a carter) and Sarah Jane Fitzsimmons. John Henry was baptised on 1st September that year at St Mary Magdalene, Liverpool.
The 1891 census return shows that John Henry's father was working as a dock labourer and the family lived at number 28 Hampton St (this street was mostly court housing but they seem to be the only family listed at number 28) He had 2 sisters and one brother.
On 18th April 1897 John Henry Fitzsimmons married Mary Elizabeth Steele, witnesses were Frances and Emily Steele.
Their daughter, Mary Elizabeth Fitzsimmons, was born on 8th November 1897 and christened on 19th December 1897 in St James’s Church.
A son, William John, was born on 31st March 1900 and christened on 15th April 1900 at St James’s Church.
Another daughter, Nancy Fitzsimmons, was born on 17th April 1902 and christened in St James’s Church on 30th April 1902. John Henry’s occupation at this time was recorded as dock labourer.
The baptism record 2 years later for their daughter Sarah Jane (born 15th November 1904, christened 27th Nov 1904 at St James’s Church) shows they were living in 10 court 4 house Hampton Street and John Henry was a labourer.
The 1911 census shows that John Henry and Mary were living in Newton St, the number isn't clear. John was working as a labourer for a white smith ‘Wilson and Sons’. William, Nancy and Sarah Jane are with them and Mary Elizabeth appears to have left home, they also had sadly had another child who died.
Military information
Pre-War
John Henry Fitzsimmons enlisted on 10th July 1895 as private 3353 4th Battalion the King’s Liverpool Regiment. His attestation papers show that he was aged 18 years and 10 months, he lived at 28 Hampton St and worked as a labourer for Mr J Ashton, Master Porter, Stanley Dock.
He was 5’6” tall and weighed 114lbs, his complexion was fresh, his eyes blue and his hair brown. He had various tattoos including crossed swords, flags and a half moon. His religion is given as Roman Catholic. (It is interesting to note that, aged 18, he repeatedly spelled his name ‘Fitzsimons’ whereas later in life he spelled it Fitzsimmons)
His service record shows that he completed 76 days drill on enlistment in 1895 and was present for drill in 1896, 1897, 1898 and 1899.
He rejoined and was embodied on 3/5/1900 then disembodied on 1/11/1900 as a private.
His absence from drill in 1900 was ‘satisfactorily accounted for’ and he was given leave from voluntary training in 1901.
Boer War
He was embodied on 6 Jan 1902 and embarked for South Africa 23 Jan 1902.
He was disembodied 10 July 1902 rank private.
He was paid a war gratuity in July 1902.
Discharged on termination of engagement 9 March 1907.
Private John Henry Fitzsimmons received the South Africa medal with Cape Colony and Transvaal clasps for his service in the Boer War.
WW1
WW1 service papers show that John Henry Fitzsimmons volunteered for the duration of the war on 28th August 1914 aged 35. He was allotted the regimental number 2499 as a private with the South Lancashire Regiment. Some sources say 3rd Battalion and some say 2nd. This will be because the 3rd Battalion was a Special Reserve, used to provide reinforcements for the overseas battalions so men would be posted to the 3rd for training before being posted overseas to a different battalion.
His medical report shows that he was 37 years of age, 5 feet 6 1/4 inches tall and weighed 136 lbs, his eyes were blue and his hair brown. He had tattoos of ‘crossed swords and other marks’ and his religion was C of E (It seems he changed denomination when he married, his children were all christened Church of England).
The papers shows that at the time of his attestation John Henry, his wife Mary and their children Nancy, Sarah Jane and William John lived at 4 Watson Street.
Private Fitzsimmons embarked for France on 23th November 1914. His medal card shows that he qualified for the 1915 star, the British War Medal and the Victory medal.
The War Diary for the 2nd Battalion South Lancs Regiment show that they had suffered heavy casualties, mustering only 9 officers an 240 other ranks in November. On 4th December the War Diary records
"Reinforcement of 129 other ranks with 4 [following] officers joined the battalion -
[Liut W.J. Meredith - 3rd Royal Munster Fusiliers
2nd Lieutenant J.W. Quantley 3rd Royal Lan Regt
2nd Lieutenant W. D. Stanner N Staffs Regt
2nd Lieutenant J H Scholing 5th Midlesex Regt]
The party included several regular sergeants and a number of old soldiers who had specially re-enlisted.
About 11am battalion moved from billets in Westoutre to farms about 1 1/2 miles west owing to accomodation in Westoutre being insufficient.
Then on 11th December
"500 other ranks under Captain N.L. Calland 3rd Battalion, joined. this reinforcement includes a very large number of old time expired soldiers who had specially enlisted."
These reinforcements were likely from the 3rd Special Reserve Battalion, South Lancs Regiment and one of these groups of men would have included Private Fitzsimmons as one of these "time-expired old soldiers"
The next 10 days were spent in billets, organising and training the new men. On the 22nd December the strength of the Battalion was 16 officers and 979 other ranks and orders were received for the Battalion to be held in readiness to rejoin the Brigade.
The weather was wet and cold with some snow, the Battalion were at rest in Bailleul until the 24th when they were moved from billets to move to the trenches East of Lindenhoek, relieving the 1st Devons who withdrew.
Christmas Day 1914, the war diary records
"Quiet night, very cold and frosty. still very cold and freezing hard. General situation quiet. "A"Company relieved "D" in fire trenches. Casualties since last night - 3 men killed, 3 wounded. special Christmas card from King and Queen received and distributed - special gifts of sweets for men in fire trenches received from General Haldam and distributed."
On the 27th December the battalion marched to billets at Westoutre, several men were "suffering from frostbite in feet but all very cheerful."
28th December - "Still wet and cold, at rest in billets. 26 men sent to field ambulance suffering with feet."
29th December - "very stormy and wet - still in billets at Westoutre. 30 men sent to field ambulance. General overhaul and refitting under officers commanding companies."
On 31st December "Brigade moved from Westoutre to Locre, battalion marching about 4pm. Occupied billets at Locre, these were very scattered and generally unsatisfactory. Considerable difficulty experienced in claiming sufficient accommodation"
they remained in these billets until Tuesday 4th January 1915 when the diary records
"still very wet and cold. Lieut's Stanner and Crankshaw placed on sick list and sent to field ambulance. Battalion left Locre about 4:45pm and advanced to part of position East of Lindenhoek allotted to 7th Infantry brigade, taking over from Royal Scots Fusiliers who withdrew.
Relief carried out successfully but was not completed till about 11pm. This was in consequence of the dispositions of their being relieved being slightly different to that occupied by the battalion on relief by Gordon Highlanders on 27th December. This caused some confusion and delay."
The conditions in these trenches were terrible, some of which is recorded in the diary:
5th January 1915
"Continuous rain, trenches in a very bad state - in some cases full of water and mud. men standing over knee deep. Every effort made to bail out and reinforce trenches. Company reliefs carried out at night."
The diary for the day that Pte Fitzsimmons was killed records:
7th January 1915
"Still very stormy and wet - battalion in same position - companies relieved in the evening. "C" Company under Captain Callard to fire trenches - other companies changing - casualties during the day - Captain Wheeler and 2 privates killed - one man wounded."
Death and Commemoration
John Henry Fitzsimmons was killed in action on 7th January 1915 after just 46 days overseas.
He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
The Liverpool Daily Post printed the following report of his death on 27th January 1915.
John Fitzsimmons of Hampton-street, Liverpool, who fell in action on Jan 7. He leaves a widow and 4 children. He went through the Boer War with the 4th Kings Liverpool. At the outbreak of this war he rejoined with the 3rd South Lancs and was only at the front 2 months when he was killed.
Pension records show that his widow received a pension of 23 shilling per week for herself and the three daughters who were under the age of 16.
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