10th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
Henry (Harry) Greatorex Sims was born in Gloucester (about 1894), the son of Thomas Francis and Martha Agnes Sims, confectioners, of Royal Bakery, Charlton Kings and Royal Cottage, Horsfair Street, Charlton Kings. He enlisted in the 10th (Service) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment in Cheltenham in September 1914. He first went to France on 15 July 1915 and it is reasonable to assume that he fought with the 10th Glosters at the Battle of Loos (25 September – 6 October 1915).
He served with the machine gun section in France during the Somme offensive of 1916. During the months of July, August and September the battalion was frequently in the front lines at Bazentin-le-Petit, Bazentin-le-Grand, Mametz Wood and on 9 September made an unsuccessful attack on the western side of High Wood, sustaining 122 casualties. It was, no doubt, during this, or an earlier action that Private Sims was wounded. He was evacuated to 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge, where he died on 26 September 1916, aged 22. There is a photograph of him in The Graphic of 14 October 1916.
He was buried at Charlton Kings Cemetery and has a private stone headstone.
Researched by Graham Adams 30 April 2016 (revised)
(Acknowledgement to ‘Leaving all that was dear – Cheltenham and the Great War’ (J Devereux & G Sacker)