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Name : Frank Wilfred Symmans. Son of John Charles Symmans and Ellen Symmans (née Walker), of 1, Malvern Cottages, Upper Ventnor, Isle of Wight Born 1882 Ventnor. Married 1908 Nellie May Peart. Children : Frank Wilfred George, born 1909; Nellie Edith May, born 1911; Frederick Robert John, born 1913; Olive Lilian Rose, born 1915; Amy Alice Florence, born 1916. |
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Census Information :
1891 : John C and Ellen Symmans, with their children including Frank W. aged 8, are at 4 Malvern Cottages, Ventnor. John Symmans is a Labourer. (Surname transcribed as Symmonds) 1901 : John C and Ellen Symmans, with some of their children (but not Frank), are at 4 Malvern Cottages, Ventnor. John Symmans is a Labourer at Cemetery. (Surname transcribed as Symmans) 1901 : assumed that Frank Symmans is serving with the Army abroad 1911 : John C and Ellen Symmans, with some of their children, are at 4 Malvern Cottages, Ventnor. John Symmans is a General Labourer. (Surname transcribed as Symmans or Symmars) 1911 : Frank and Nellie Symmans, with 2 children, are at Southford, Whitwell, Isle of Wight. Frank Symmans is a Carter on Farm. (Surname transcribed as Symmons). |
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Service details : Gunner 855084 Frank Wilfred Symmans, 32nd Div. Ammunition Col., Royal Field Artillery. Frank Wilfred Symmans attested for service with the Royal Garrison Artillery on 26 June 1899 aged "18". He was 5 ft 7 in tall with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. He had a number of small scars. He gave his trade as Gardener. From 1899 to 1911 he served in a number of locations including Malta and Calcutta, before completion of his period of engagement on 26 June 1911. He was re-engaged on 8 September 1914, when his height was given as 6 ft 0 in, and he was a Farm Labourer in Niton. |
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Died : 27 October 1917 aged 35 Buried at : Solferino Farm Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. CWGC record ... |
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Commemorated on these Memorials :
Ventnor War Memorial Ventnor St Alban's Church Roll of Honour Freshwater War Memorial County War Memorial, Carisbrooke Castle |
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Documents :
ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY
Friday, December 25, 1914 Page 5 CORPL. S. SYMMANS, of Upper Ventnor, Royal Garrison Artillery, has returned to his home at Ventnor from the front on leave till Boxing Day. He says the troops are being excellently treated both as regards food and other comforts.
ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY
Friday, December 24, 1915 Page 5 MARRIAGE. - On Saturday last at St. John's Church, Ryde, the marriage took place of Corpl. S. Symmans, R.G.A. (son of Mr. and Mrs. John Symmans, of Lowtherville) and Miss Louisa Petty, of Ryde. The Vicar of the parish performed the ceremony. The bride was given away by her father, Mr. J. Petty, and Miss Elizabeth Petty and Miss Constance Rayner were the bridesmaids. The duties of best man were carried out by Mr. Robert Symmans, brother of the bridegroom. Corpl. Symmans had a week's leave from the Western Front, where he has been for over fifteen months. The newly-married pair were the recipients of a large number of valuable and useful presents. His wife, Louisa Matilda PETTY, was the sister of William James PETTY who is commemorated on Ryde War Memorial (though not on the County War Memorial unless he is JJ PETTY). The bridesmaid, Constance Maud RAYNER, was the future wife of Robert Harold SYMMANS, the best man and brother of S SYMMANS.
ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY
Friday, November 16, 1917 Page 2 There is a report in the town that Sergt. Frank Symmans, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Symmans, Upper Ventnor, has been killed in action in France. Friday, November 30, 1917 Page 1 News reached here on Wednesday in last week of the death of Gr. Frank W. Symmans, husband of Mrs. Symmans, of Homedale, Blackbridge-road, Freshwater, and fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. John Symmans, Upper Ventnor. Gr. Symmans was an old R.G.A, man, but out of service when war broke out. He was called up with the National reserve in 1914, and after a short period transferred to the R.F.A. He was formerly employed by Mr. William Morris, of Down Court Farm, Niton. In a letter from his battery officer to the widow it is stated that a German shell struck the dug-out in which deceased was at rest, practically demolishing it. The concrete fell upon him, and so severely injured him internally that he died in hospital the following day. The Captain of deceased's battery has also sent a most kind and sympathetic letter to Mrs. Symmans, expressing the regret of the officers, N.C.O's., and men at the loss of a good and capable soldier, one who could be relied upon to carry out his duty. Gr. Symmans was wounded in the foot in June. He leaves a widow and five children, the eldest of whom is 8, to mourn his loss. Mr. and Mrs. J. Symmans have now three sons in the Army, and one in the Navy. (*) Other sons, Pte. Fred Symmans, R.M.A., and now Gr. F.W. Symmans have been killed. The family have been the recipients of a large number of messages of condolence.
ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY
Friday, July 7, 1916 Page 1 Leading Seaman Henry Symmans (son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Symmans, Upper Ventnor), has brought home a "momento" of the recent Naval Battle in the form of a jagged piece of metal from a German 15-inch gas shell. It is a formidable-looking object weighing 16lbs., although its proportions are not large. A fragment from the same shell killed six of Seaman Symmans's colleagues. The white acid which caused the shell to explode may be easily seen in the metal. Friday, July 14, 1916 Page 4 In referring to Leading Seaman Harry Symmans last week we gave the wrong title. He should have been described as a 1st class Petty Officer and Leading Torpedo Instructor.
ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY
Friday, January 5, 1917 Page 4 REMARKABLE FAMILY RECORD. - Mr. and Mrs. J. Symmans, of Upper Ventnor, have now ten married sons and one married daughter. Five sons are now serving with the colours, one son was killed on the Aboukir and three sons are in Australia. There are 16 grandchildren. Page 4 THE MARRIAGE of Corpl. A.E. Symmans, R.G.A., ninth son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Symmans, of Upper Ventnor, and Miss E.K. Morgan, eldest daughter of Mr. C. Morgan, of St. George's Down, Arreton, took place at Arreton Church on Wednesday, December 27th. The bride was attended by Miss D. Morgan (sister) and Miss P. Bennett, Miss H. Morgan and Miss W. Symmans (niece of bridegroom). The duties of best man were carried out by Sergt. S.S. Symmans, R.G.A., brother of bridegroom. The bride was given away by her father. The presents were numerous and useful. About 20 guests sat down to the wedding breakfast. The bridegroom and the best man are serving in France.
ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY PRESS
Saturday, December 1, 1917 Page 1 ACKNOWLEDGMENT MRS. SYMMANS, of Freshwater Bay, wishes to return thanks for the many sympathetic letters and telegrams received in her sad loss, particularly from her old neighbours at Niton and Whitwell. |
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Further Information :
(*) His brother, John Frederick Symmans, died in 1914 aged 38. His brothers Septimus Stephen Symmans, and Reuben Octavius Symmans, both served in the Army. His brother Henry Ernest Symmans, served in the Royal Navy. His brother-in-law, Percy George Sothcott (CWGC record) died 31 May 1916 in the loss of HMS Invincible. His brother, Robert Harold Symmans, was married to Constance Maud Rayner, whose brother Thomas Charles Henry Rayner, also died in WW I. His nephew, Henry Ernest George Symmans, served in the Army in WW II. |
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Acknowledgments :
Janet Griffin for newspaper research |
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Page status :
Page last updated : 12 December 2014 (added further family newspaper report) |
Memorials & Monuments
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