Military uniform , Simms or Cox, Buckinghamshire, UK ?

[Heatha]

I thought I knew who this was until I started looking at military uniforms. Now I am totally unsure.

One option (which I was lead to believe) was that this was an English Sapper in WWI.

But am I wrong and is this the Boer War and did I have the wrong generation ?

Any help would be gratefully received.

We were told by Granny that this was Frank. We assumed it was her brother Frank Simms in WWI but it could be her brother-in-law Frank Cox but I cannot find a military record for him. Frank Simms was born in 1890 and Francis "Frank" Cox was born in 1886/7. So both would be of an age to fight in WWI but not the Boer War.

Beyond that I cannot find another Frank/Francis.

[Treetotal]

Hi Heatha, I have asked for your post to be moved to the Armed Forces Board for a more informed response.

Now Moved
Carol

[jim1]

Looks like Imperial Yeomanry so closer to the Boer War. As they were volunteers one might assume Bucks Yeomanry was his Regiment.
Frank Cox is the more likely candidate.

[Heatha]

Thank you, jim1. The only reservation I have about that is that Frank Cox would only have been 15 years old at the end of the Boer War. I think the soldier in this photo looks older than 15.

[jim1]

This may have been up to 1908 when the Volunteer Force became The Territorial Force & The Yeomany Regiments merged with the Hussars.
This man didn't serve in the Boer War as he has no medal ribbons.

[SiGr]

Not sure if you noticed but he appears to have two stripes his left arm making him a Corporal. That would also suggest he had at least a couple of years or more in uniform at the time the photo was taken. Good luck with your search. Simon.

[cuffie81]

I don't know if it'll help but Frank Simms is listed on the Absent Voters List in 1918 & 1919.

I've added a few other references just to be sure I've got the right Frank. Hopefully Heatha can confirm that.

Absent voters list
1918-1919: Near Post Office, Marsh Gibbon - Frank Edward Simms; 553085 Pte., 396th Labour Co.

Electoral registers:
1918-1919: Near Post Office, Marsh Gibbon - Frank Edward Simms
1921-1922: Ivy Cottage, Marsh Gibbon - Frank Edward Simms
1923-1924: Ivy Cottage, Marsh Gibbon - Frank Edward Simms, Lillian Rebecca Simms

GRO BMD references:
1887 Q4 Birth: Lilian Rebecca Holt (mmn Simms); Aylesbury; vol 3a; page 695
1890 Q2 Birth: Frank Edward Simms (mmn Travell); Aylesbury; vol 3a; page 703
1921 Q2 Marriage: Frank E Simms & Lilian R Holt; Kidderminster; vol 6c; page 131
1951 Q3 Death: Lilian Rebecca Simms; 64 (born c1887); Oxford; vol 6b; page 718
1969 Q2 Death: Frank Edward Simms; born 17 May 1890; Aylesbury; vol 6a; page 757

Buckingham Advertiser and Free Press
16 Apr 1921
Marriages
- 6 April at Ribbesford Parish Church, Worcester
- Frank Edward Simms, 3rd son of John Simms, Mayfield Cottage, Quainton
- to Lilian Rebecca Holt, daughter of Mr W F Holt, The Cottage, High Street, Winslow

[Heatha]

Thank you, cuffie81. That all looks correct.

Granny would have, I assume, be talking about this 'Frank' with regard to the photograph, but we are not sure that she was correct, although she appeared to have all her marbles until the end.

We (the cousins and I) assume that she knew that it was her brother, Frank, but we are open to being corrected.