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Remembered Today:

L/Cpl Thomas Henry Simmons


SapperBoo

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L/Cpl Thomas Henry Simmons (163534), 12 Labour Battalion, Royal Engineers died 26 September 1916 and is buried PIETA MILITARY CEMETERY, Malta.

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/115853/SIMMONS,%20THOMAS%20HENRY

Could anybody suggest what he was doing in Malta?

At the time of his death Thomas was about 49. Up to 31 March 1916 he was a surveyor with Ordnance Survey in Ireland. He enlisted in Enniskillen.

I have found the following reference.

"A battalion, designated the 18th, was raised in Ireland for work in Salonika, but owing to the difficulty of obtaining recruits it was sent overseas on a modified establishment."

http://www.reubique.com/labourbn.htm

Thanks

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PIETA MILITARY CEMETERY, Malta.

Historical Information

From the spring of 1915, the hospitals and convalescent depots established on the islands of Malta and Gozo dealt with over 135,000 sick and wounded, chiefly from the campaigns in Gallipoli and Salonika.

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SapperBoo

First you need to establish where 12th Labour Bn RE were in September 1916.

If they were in Salonika, which seems likely, there was an autumn offensive underway at this time, the British Salonika force undertook a series of actions in the Struma valley as well as actions on the Varda sector for example the battle of Machukovo, he could have been injured during the preparations for these actions or in the aftermath. However, the Salonika campaign is noted as much for its sickness casualties as its battle ones, and as such it is quite likely your man died from Malaria or dysentery. If you click on the link below it will take you to another thread that may be useful:

Labour

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