VICTOR PERCY SYMONDS
Born: 1885, Ipswich.
Died: 31st December 1917; age 32; Drowned at sea onboard H.T. ‘Argon’ – torpedoed and sunk by German submarine UC-34.
Residence: 204, Cemetery Road, Ipswich.
Enlistment Location: Scotton Camp, Yorkshire.
Rank: Gunner; Service Number: 631788
Regiment: Royal Field Artillery, 874th Trench Mortar Battery. Territorial Force.
Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.
Grave Reference:
F. 55.
Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery,
Egypt.
Son: DOUGLAS JOHN CHARLES SYMONDS kia WW2
CENSUS
1891 6, Charles Street, Ipswich.
Victor was 6 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
John Shields Symonds, 48, a Boot Maker; born Gorleston, Norfolk.
Leah Symonds (nee Smith), 47; born Dallinghoo, Suffolk.
Eleanor Elizabeth Symonds, 21, a Nurse (domestic), born Ipswich.
Humphrey Percy Symonds, 20, a Letter Carrier, born Ipswich.
Kate Charlotte Symonds, 14, Mother’s Help, born Ipswich.
John Charles Symonds, 13, born Ipswich.
Frank William Symonds, 11, born Ipswich.
Mabel Symonds, 9, born Ipswich.
Archibald Benham Symonds, 7, born Ipswich.
1901 6, Charles Street, Ipswich.
Victor was 16 years old, a Confectioner’s Assistant in a sweet shop. He was living with his parents & siblings.
John, 59, Shoe & Boot Maker.
Leah, 58.
Humphrey, 29, a Letter Carrier.
Kate, 24.
John, 23, a French Polisher.
Frank, 21, a Chemist Assistant.
Mabel, a Upholstress.
Archibald, 17, a Tinker.
1911 14, Charles Street, Ipswich.
Victor was 27 years old, a Packer. He was living with his mother & siblings.
Leah, 68.
John, 33, a French Polisher.
Frank, 31, a Chemist Manager.
Mabel, 29, an Upholsterer.
In 1914, Ipswich, Victor married, Kate Beatrice Ditcham, born October 1884, Ipswich – daughter of George Charles Ditcham, a boiler maker and Margaret Ditcham (nee Cloud), of 15, Upland Road, Ipswich.
Kate and Victor had two sons:
Humphrey James Symonds, born June 1916, Ipswich.
Douglas John Charles Symonds, born February 1918, Ipswich died – killed in action 27th August 1945, Cologne, Germany, aged 27. He was Lance Corporal, 139083, in the Royal Army Service Corps.
Victor is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Margaret’s Church, Ipswich.
(SS) H.T. ‘ARGON’
Troops bound for Palestine arrived at Alexandria, Egypt, on board the troop ship SS. Argon on December 30th, 1917, the ship was permitted to enter the harbour, but later was ordered back out to sea again. She anchored 8 miles outside the harbour without any protection from submarine attack, for which she was an easy target. The Aragon was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine UC-34.
H.M.S Attack and The armed trawler HMT “Points Castle” came to the rescue. H.M.S Attack drew right alongside Aragon to take survivors aboard, H.M.S Attack was crowded with 300 to 400 survivors, 20 minutes after being hit the Aragon went down. A torpedo then struck HMS Attack amidships cutting her into two pieces. It is estimated that the SS Aragon had lost 600 men in the incident and H.M.S Attack lost 10 crew. Three Ipswich men were lost.
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