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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Suffolk => Topic started by: Keziah2 on Friday 01 February 19 16:06 GMT (UK)
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Can anyone please help me with my quest to identify further the history of those named on the parish Roll of Honour. I am unable to find out anything much about this chap other than the info below from the CWGC website, an entry on the British Newspaper Archive about a memorial to him & 3 others at Mellis church in 1948 & a couple of entries (1952 & 1961) from the same source referencing his mother and incidents with out of control dogs. Evelyn Guy Sims appears to have died in 1969 age 77.
Denys Guy Sims Remembered with Honour Runnymede Memorial
Sgt 958216, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Died on 21 March 1941 Age 20
Son of George and Evelyn Guy Sims, of Oakley, Suffolk.
many thanks
K
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Just before the war there is a household which may be relevant (or related) at Mellis Rectory in Suffolk, though it requires investigation as not a perfect match.
Wilfred Dennis Guy Sims born 19 December 1920.
Doris Guy Sims born 11 December 1896.
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Hi
There is a long report of his funeral in the Diss Express 4th April 1941 which sounds like it might be him, and Mellis Rectory is mentioned. Available FindMyPast.
I wonder how he died as he appears he had a proper funeral and burial.
Cathy
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I see that his family mourners were:
Mrs Sims (mother)
Corporal H.A. Sims, M.M. (brother)
Pilot-Officer & Mrs J.A. Anderson (uncle & aunt)
Miss M. Anderson.
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These will be the relevant births for Denys and his elder brother, I think:
Harold A Sims, mmn Anderson Jun qtr 1919 Brighton 2b 258 (Harold Arthur Sims was awarded the Military Medal)
Wilfrid D G Sims, mmn Anderson, Mar qtr 1921 Brighton 2b 317.
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Also some mentions in American papers being the grandson of the late Admiral William S Sims
Cathy
Added...it mentioned his brother gained the military medal.
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Marriage, Sep qtr 1918
Arthur Sims to Doris Anderson
Brighton 2b 668
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Wonderful - so he could have been Wilfred Denys rather than just Denys. I haven’t managed to find births registration for him, a marriage for his parents assuming she married as Evelyn or death reg for his father.
I has been suggested that he is buried in the churchyard so that fits. Could his father have been the rector? More research :)
K
ps thanks avm228 I was wondering if she was Doris not Evelyn & George obviously not George but Arthur.
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His father is unlikely to have been a rector (C of E parish) because Denys' funeral was a Catholic one. The newspapers show that in 1939 there was a dispute over the appointment of a new rector, so it may be that the rectory was let out.
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I've corrected Denys' first name from "Alfred" to "Wilfred" after finding a better image.
It's spelt Wilfrid on the birth registration.
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Free search of the 1939 has Doris Guy Sims b.1896 living in Hartismere R.D., Suffolk with Wilfred Dennis Guy b. 1920.
If you have access to the 1939 it may be worth checking to see if the address is for the Mellis Rectory and also it will show if Doris is a widow.
JJ
Added - Have just noticed that some of these details have already been posted.
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Also some mentions in American papers being the grandson of the late Admiral William S Sims
Admiral William Sowden Sims:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Sims
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Thanks yes I noted the change - sounds like he came from a fairly distinguished background. Was there any mention in the funeral report of how Wilfred Denys met his death?
K
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No, nothing on the death other than that it was "recorded last week" at the time of the funeral.
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The only marriage showing in online trees for William Sowden Sims (1858-1936) is a rather late one - 1905, Washington D.C., to Anne Erwin Hitchcock.
If this was his only marriage it was obviously too late to produce a son who might have married in Brighton in 1918. So it's a bit of a mystery to me how he could have been Denys' grandfather at the moment.
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Mmmm curious that but you certainly have the right chap. Strange that his mother was named as Doris but was seemingly know as Evelyn by 1941. She obviously wasn’t good at dog training/control!
K
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http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/09769.php
Cathy
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Excellent - thank you Cathy.
K
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It's all a bit mysterious.
According to a report of Denys' death in the Diss Express of 28 March 1941, Denys' father was the late Commander George Sims, who served with the US Navy in European waters during the 1914-18 war and died from the effects of wounds sustained in combat a few years later.
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Harold was hauled up for various driving offences in November 1941 - his mother gave evidence on his behalf as "Emma Guy Sims, of Mellis" according to the Diss Express of 14 November 1941.
I am beginning to wonder whether Doris/Emma/Evelyn had a flexible relationship with the truth!
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Sounds like a distinct possibility. It’s amazing what you uncover once you start looking ;D
Thank you so much for your help
K
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Hi,
Thank you for finding so many interesting details about the Sims family and the weird way they swap and change names!
Evelyn was an amazing woman of strength and character, resilient and loyal. her German Shepherds were fine, I remember cuddling them.
The day Harold came home was the day the press reported his M.M. describing his Gallantry under heavy Machine gunfire. He and one other ran across the battlefield to rescue an injured officer.
He had returned home to attend his brother's funeral. Evelyn had a lot to cope with that week.
Harold was only at the beginning of his journey aged 21 in 1941. after driving a tank and then dashing around the battlefields at Dunkirk, I imagine he would probably drive like a lune during his leave.
I imagine His mother vouched for him regarding his brother and his recent experiences.
Harold served throughout the war involved in many campaigns in many countries around the world. He reached the rank of Captain. He was recalled to service in 1950.
Harold did not adapt well to civilian life, He was funny, warm, short-tempered, intelligent, unreasonable, friendly & charming. In fact, he never really left the service.
He died a sudden death in Atbara, Sudan in 1977. Death certificate states that he was a teacher at the high school.... Believe that if you will. (By the way, he was fluent in Arabic and was able to go native. So much so that the name on his death certificate was corrected, from Hamid Shah to Harold Sims
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Sorry, I posted a couple of photos for you but had a spot of bother getting the hang of it. you will need to search sims family. pics are Evelyn Harold and Mary
m x
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Link to the photos of Evelyn and Mary (for information)
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=845898
Philip
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Dear Only Me!
Thank you so much for the pics & the info. I finally found Denys Sims grave at St Mary’s, Mellis. A very discreet flat stone in the NE corner of the churchyard. Never did I think I would uncover such an intriguing story in researching the Roll of Honour displayed in the Mellis Memorial Hall. Evelyn must have had a very challenging life.
K