JOSHUA SYMONDS
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Image from the Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury – 1916
Born: 1884, St. Clements, Ipswich.
Died: 15th September 1916; age 32; KiA. Served 14 years & 64 days.
Residence: 26, Tomline Road, Ipswich.
Enlistment Details: Location: Ipswich; Date: 14th July 1902; age 18 years & 2 months; Occupation: Labourer; Religion: CofE. Height 5ft 6 3/4ins, greyish-blue eyes, brown hair.
Date of Entry Therein: 7th October 1915 – France.
Service:
Home: 14th July 1902 – 11th April 1904
Malta 12th April 1914 – 24th October 1906
Home: 25th October 1906 – 6th October 1915
B.E.F. 7th October 1915 – 15 September 1916.
Offences: Gosport – 21st November 1902 – Acting Corporal – 1. Absent from Staff Parade 2. Dirty on Church Parade – trial 3rd October 1902 – revert to Private/Rifleman.1st Battalion
Holywood – 10th February 1908 – Bugler – Dirty on Parade at 9.30 am – trial 11th February 1908 – 5 days C.B.
Rank: Lance Sergeant; Service Number: S/9108
Regiment: The Rifle Brigade, 9th Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War, 1914 and 1915 Star.
Memorial Reference.
Pier & Face 16B & 16C.
Somme,
France.
Brother-in-law to GEORGE DAVID MANN.
CENSUS
1891 2, Foxhall Road, Ipswich.
Joshua was 7 years old and living with his parents and siblings.
Francis Symonds, 46, a Dock Labourer, born St. Helen’s, Ipswich.
Harriet Symonds (nee Burton), 36, born St. Mary Stoke, Ipswich.
Francis Joseph Symonds, 17, a General Labourer, born St. Mary Elm’s, Ipswich.
Susannah Symonds, 15, a Domestic Servant – Day Girl, born Ipswich.
Frederick Leonard Symonds, 13, a General Labourer, born Ipswich.
Samuel Arthur Symonds, 11, born Ipswich.
Julia Symonds, 8, born Ipswich.
Edward William Symonds, 4, born Ipswich.
Albert Charles Symonds, 2, born Ipswich.
1901 85, Kemball Street, Ipswich.
Joshua was 17 years old, a General Labourer. He was living with his parents and brothers.
Francis, 56, a General Labourer.
Harriet, 49.
Francis, 27, a General Labourer.
Edward, 13.
Albert, 12.
1911 26, Tomline Road, Ipswich.
Joshua was 27 years old, a Railway Servant – Labourer. He was married with a daughter and living in his in-laws’ family home.
Charlotte Gowers, 58, born Ipswich.
Cecilia Gowers, 28, a Factory Hand – Machinist, born Ipswich.
Lily Gowers, 29, a Factory Hand – Printer, born Ipswich.
James Albert Gowers, 21, a Dental Mechanic, born Ipswich.
Maud, 19.
Cecilia, 1.
On the 16th August 1909, at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Ipswich, Joshua married Victoria Maud Gowers, born October 1891, Ipswich – daughter of James Gowers, a bricklayer, and Charlotte Gowers (nee Elsdon), of 26, Tomline Road, Ipswich.
Victoria and Joshua had two children:
Cecilia Ellen Maud Symonds, born September 1909, Ipswich.
James Francis Symonds, born September 1912, Ipswich.
Joshua’s widow, Mrs Victoria Maud Symonds, of 24, Tomline Road, Ipswich, received the British War Medal in January 1919, the Victory Medal on the 6th June 1919, and the 1914 & 1915 Stars on the 10th March 1920.
Soldiers’ Effects to Victoria M. Symonds – widow.
Joshua is also remembered on the war memorial at Holy Trinity Church, Ipswich and at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Ipswich.
Joshua’s brother, Edward William Symonds, died in the First World War on the 28th July 1919, aged 32, at Ipswich. He was a Lance Corporal, service number P4440, of the Military Police Corps, Military Foot Police. Edward was laid to rest at the Field of Honour, Ipswich Old Cemetery, Ipswich.
The Rifle Brigade, 9th Battalion
Leave a Reply