In Washington Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of:
13740 Private
R.T. Simm
Yorkshire Regiment
20th July 1916
Ralph Turner Simm was born at 4 Elizabeth Street, Swalwell in 1880, one of ten children to a John Simm, born 1850, and his wife Mary Jane nee Kenyon, born 1854, however three of the children died. They were married in 1874. The children were William born 1875, Sarah Wilhelmina born 1878, Mary born 1882, Robert born 1886, Elizabeth Jane born 1888, died 1944, John born 1899 and James born 1893.
In 1891, they had moved to 3 Cross Row, Usworth Village, Washington. By 1901 they were residing at 33 South Street, Wheatley Hill. Ralph Turner Simm was married in 1902 to Mary Hannah Glendinning, born September 1879, baptised on the 5th October 1879, died 25th March 1924 at Huntly (Kimihia) Public Cemetery, Waikato, Huntly, New Zealand.
They resided at 4 Ash Street, Washington Station, Washington from 1904. They had three children, Leanora born 8th July 1903 at Swalwell, died 23rd December 1973, she married Thomas Jefferson, [born 10 Albert Place, Washington, Co Durham, 5th October 1894, the son of Thomas Jefferson and Sarah Jefferson, in 1921, {he died 8th August 1958}, Leonora and her husband emigrated to New Zealand on the 5th March 1921 on board the Remuera, ship number 124590, bound for Wellington. Thomas Jefferson served in the New Zealand Army in WW1, he enlisted at Puckmiro on the 16th June 1915, posted to the Auckland Infantry Regiment into ‘A’ Company, with the service number 12/3060, he was wounded at least on two occasions, with Gun Shot Wounds, and served in Egypt and the Western Front, Thomas was then in ‘E’ Company, he was discharged on the 14th August 1919. He was 5 feet 9 inches, Blue eyes, dark complexion with dark brown hair, trade stated as a Blacksmith. He served a total of 3 years 305 days. [Leonora visted the UK on her own, on the 19th June 1959, arriving from Auckland, on-board the Italia, ship number 4627/80, at Southampton. Then on the 18th November 1959, she returned to New Zealand after staying at 2 Havannah Terrace, Washington, embarking at Southampton onboard the Fairsea, calling at Sydney in Australia]. They resided at Puckmiro, and he was a miner working at The Puckmiro Colliery, William born 1909, [who married Annie Boag Stevenson in 1937], he died 30th June 1991, they were residing at No 2 Road, Huntley West, and Violet born 4th May 1913, died 1940.
Ralph Turner Simm enlisted at Washington on the 8th August 1914, he was a private with the service number 13740 in the 7th (Service), Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Ralph was wounded in July 1916 and was sent back to the UK for him to recover. He died of his wounds at Ecclesall Infirmary, Sheffield, with 200 beds on the 20th July 1916.
His widow and two of the children William and Ralph emigrated to New Zealand departing on the Corinthic, ship number 147155 from Southampton on the 25th January 1923, travelling 3rd Class.
She died on the 25th March 1924 at Huntly (Kimihia) Public Cemetery, Waikato, Huntly, New Zealand.
Acknowledgments: His grandson, Clive Simm, Anybody wishing to contact Mr. Clive Simm direct can do so on marikoclive@gmail.com.
Ralph Turner Simm is remembered at Washington on W96.01 and at Sunderland on S140.048.
