Private Papers of Lieutenant J P Symons

Seven photographs of Lieutenant John Patrick Symons, 78th General Purpose Transport Company, Royal Indian Army Service Corps (RIASC), who died of heat stroke in Delhi aged 21 (11 June 1942), including photographs of him as a child, in uniform, with his sister, Beryl, and of his original grave marker (with his incorrect age). Together with: a ts letter (7pp, 27 August 1942) from his Commanding Officer, Major Leslie A Waters, to Symons' parents, expressing his dismay at the death of their son, and his strong feeling of responsibility for it, with details of the training programmes he had introduced to toughen up the men under his command, the conscientious way Symons had taken on his duties and responsibilities, the temperature being about 120 degrees in Delhi, and giving details of the circumstances of Symons' death from heat stroke, with Symons fainting in his arms and not regaining consciousness in hospital, as well as details of losing family of his own in the bombing of London; and brief biographical details of Symons written by his brother (2014). Also included is a photograph of his mother, Olive Symons (Née Mansell), three ts letters written to her (3pp plus two envelopes) from the Postal Censorship relating to her employment with the Postal Censorship in the Dock Offices, Liverpool (October 1916 – August 1918), including details of salary and duties, together with a War Department Certificate of Service in Civil Appointment (1p plus envelope, November 1918).

Seven photographs of Lieutenant John Patrick Symons, 78th General Purpose Transport Company, Royal Indian Army Service Corps (RIASC), who died of heat stroke in Delhi aged 21 (11 June 1942), including photographs of him as a child, in uniform, with his sister, Beryl, and of his original grave marker (with his incorrect age). Together with: a ts letter (7pp, 27 August 1942) from his Commanding Officer, Major Leslie A Waters, to Symons' parents, expressing his dismay at the death of their son, and his strong feeling of responsibility for it, with details of the training programmes he had introduced to toughen up the men under his command, the conscientious way Symons had taken on his duties and responsibilities, the temperature being about 120 degrees in Delhi, and giving details of the circumstances of Symons' death from heat stroke, with Symons fainting in his arms and not regaining consciousness in hospital, as well as details of losing family of his own in the bombing of London; and brief biographical details of Symons written by his brother (2014). Also included is a photograph of his mother, Olive Symons (Née Mansell), three ts letters written to her (3pp plus two envelopes) from the Postal Censorship relating to her employment with the Postal Censorship in the Dock Offices, Liverpool (October 1916 – August 1918), including details of salary and duties, together with a War Department Certificate of Service in Civil Appointment (1p plus envelope, November 1918).

Cataloguer SJO