Eric Conrad Simon
Dear husband of Winifred R Simon “Maitri”
Location:
Manchester Jewish Museum
190 Cheetham Hill Road,
Manchester
Lancashire
M8 8LW
Details on cross:
GRU tags
Captain E C Simon
5th Lancashire Fusiliers
17 August 1915
Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): GRU tag
Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Unknown
Cross beam width: Star of David plaque
Other information
Mounting to wall: unknown
Detailing: none
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): Possible
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent):
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): unvarnished
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Good
Other information, notes and observations:
Above data taken from photograph via email from Museum.
Eric Conrad Simon, B 14 September 1887 Didsbury, Lancashire.
Died in field ambulance shot while reconnoitring trenches. (De Ruvigny roll of honour)
He went to school at Bedales and is remembered on their website in some detail here.
An extract here:
“Eric’s grand-daughter Deborah recently explained “He was, apparently, a very gentle person. … The idea of war and killing must have been horrifying for him, but he decided to join up … he could not bear the thought of not doing his bit.” In January 1915 Eric was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers and in April was promoted to the rank of Captain. The battalion was in France by May. Unfortunately his officer’s file does not survive in the National Archives so I haven’t traced his progress but August found him near Albert on the Somme. He was reconnoitring on the evening of 16th and was shot by a sniper; he died next day in the Field Ambulance and lies buried in Millencourt Cemetery”
CWGC
Eric Conrad Simon
Rank: Captain
Date of Death: 17/08/1915
Age: 27
Regiment/Service: Lancashire Fusiliers 2nd/5th Bn.
Grave Reference: F. 63.
Cemetery: MILLENCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Additional Information:
Son of Henry and Emily Simon; husband of Winifred R. Simon (nee Levy), of 41, Broadhurst Gardens, Hampstead, London. Born at Didsbury, Manchester.
He was subject to a reburial although it would appear it was from the vicinity of Millencourt.
The inscription on his grave at Millencourt reads: Dear husband of Winifred R Simon “Maitri”
Maitri may be a reference to the Hindu word meaning ‘Loving Kindness” or could be a pet name, it is unfortunately impossible to know now.
Survey compiled by Andrew Howson, photograph courtesy of Manchester Jewish Museum.
Date of survey: 15 Dec 2016