Marcel André Simon (1899 - 1917)

Born 1 Mar 1899 in Sidcup, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 29 Apr 1917 at age 18 in Arras, Pas-de-Calais, France

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Maureen Wilkins [send private message]

Biography

Marcel Simon was born in Sidcup, Kent, England.

Birth and Early Years

Marcel was the third child of Alfred Leon Simon and Kathleen (Fysh) Simon. He was born in Sidcup, Kent, England, United Kingdom probably in late March 1899, although some sources give his date of birth as 1 March 1899. His birth was registered in the Bromley registration district in the June quarter of 1899.^[1]

Marcel came from a cosmopolitan family which was well-to-do and highly educated. His father, Alfred, was a mining engineer who had been born in Saarbrucken on the border between France and Germany. His mother, Kathleen, was the daughter of Sir Philip Oakley Fysh, a leading Australian politician.^[2]

Judging from the birthplaces of Marcel's older brother, René, and his older sister, Babette, the family had lived in Germany and in Tasmania before coming to England and settling in Sidcup, shortly before Marcel was born. The family home, which was recorded on the 1901 census^[3] and the 1911 census^[4] was a substantial suburban villa 'Arundel' in the Park, Sidcup. Poignantly, this road adjoins The Green, which is the site of the Sidcup War Memorial.

Residence

Residence:

Date: 02 APR 1911

Place: Chislehurst, Kent, England^[5]

Residence: Residence on joining OTC

Date: JAN 1914

Place: 33 Russell Chambers, Bury Street, London, England

Residence: Family residence when Marcel enlisted.

Date: DEC 1916

Place: 18A Trebovir Road, Earls Court, Middlesex, England

Residence:

Date: 1901

Place: Arundel, Chislehurst, Kent, England^[6]

Military Service

Military Service: Residence on joining Officer Training Corps

Date: JAN 1914

Place: Westminster School, Westminster, London, England^[7]

In December 1916, Marcel joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment and became a 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion. This appointment was reported in the London Gazette issue of 19 Jan 1917. ^[8]

Death

Death: Killed in action

Date: 29 APR 1917

Place: Arras, France^[9][10][11]

Research Notes

• Marcel Simon was killed during WWI in France. His body was only recovered in 1998 and very detailed forensic work was necessary to determine the identity of this unknown soldier. Marcel was interred with full military honours in 2000 at a service attended by some of his descendants.^[12][13][14]

Sources

1. ↑ England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Birth (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content : accessed 1 Aug 2020), database entry for Simon, Marcel Andre (Mother's maiden surname: Fych), GRO Reference: 1899 Jun Quarter in Bromley reg dist, Volume 02A, Page 497.
2. ↑ Wikipedia entry for Sir Philip Oakley Fysh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Fysh
3. ↑ 1901 Census: "1901 England Census" Class: RG13; Piece: 693; Folio: 116; Page: 20
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7814 #33673363 (accessed 28 November 2021)
   Marcel Simon (2) son in household of Alfred L Simon (39) in Bromley registration district. Born in Sidcup, Kent, England.
4. ↑ 1911 Census: "1911 England Census"
   The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2352 #41295581 (accessed 28 November 2021)
   Marcel Andre Simon (12) son, School, in household of Alfred Leo Simon (49) at Arundel, The Park, Sidcup, Kent. Born in Sidcup, Kent, England.
5. ↑ Source: #S91 Page: Class: RG14; Piece: 3709; Schedule Number: 12 Object: @M1896@
6. ↑ Source: #S84 Page: Class: RG13; Piece: 693; Folio: 116; Page: 20
7. ↑ Source: #S106
8. ↑ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29911/page/822
9. ↑ "UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919" Name Marcel Andre Simon Death Date 29 Apr 1917 Rank 2 Lieutenant (T) Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire) Regiment Battalion Battalion Not Shown Type of Casualty Killed in action Ancestry uk Record UKsoldiersGreatWar #1021709
10. ↑ "Commonwealth War Graves Commission" MARCEL ANDRE SIMON, ORCHARD DUMP CEMETERY, ARLEUX-EN-GOHELLE I. C. 7A. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1653025/marcel-andre-simon/
11. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56047362/marcel-andre-simon: accessed 25 June 2023), memorial page for 2nd Lt Marcel Andre Simon (unknown–29 Apr 1917), Find A Grave: Memorial #56047362, citing Orchard Dump Cemetery, Arleux-en-Gohelle, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France; Maintained by Woose (contributor 48275987).
12. ↑ https://www.mertoncourthistory.com/second-lieutenant-marcel-andre-simon
13. ↑ http://firstworldwar.westminster.org.uk/?p=1075
14. ↑ https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/battlefields/gazetteer-of-the-western-front/gazetteer-of-the-western-front-oppy/