By Audrey Dewjee
The story of this family came to light in the Hull Daily Mail, 26 February, 1943, under the heading “American Soldiers ‘Adopt’ Three Hull Orphans”.[1] The paper reported that:
The coming to England of coloured American troops to play their part in the war has brought unexpected happiness and a generous measure of future security to three Hull orphaned evacuees.
They are a trio of little coloured boys – Edwin (8), Frederick (7), and Albert (5), sons of a seaman named Simmons, a native of the West Indies, who lost his life at sea. They are also motherless and have been cared for since before the outbreak of war by their grandmother, Mrs. Jordan, who lives at 52, Tadman-st., Hull.[2]
The coming to England of coloured American troops to play their part in the war has brought unexpected happiness and a generous measure of future security to three Hull orphaned evacuees.
They are a trio of little coloured boys – Edwin (8), Frederick (7), and Albert (5), sons of a seaman named Simmons, a native of the West Indies, who lost his life at sea. They are also motherless and have been cared for since before the outbreak of war by their grandmother, Mrs. Jordan, who lives at 52, Tadman-st., Hull.[2]
Hull Daily Mail, 26 February, 1943
Able Seaman Edwin Simmons had been a seaman for many years. He died on 7 September 1940, aged 52, when the SS José de Larrinaga was sunk by German U Boat U-47, one of the most successful German U-boats of World War 2. The multi-racial crew of 40 men all perished and are commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London, panel 59.[3] His wife, the former Ellen Hill, had died in the middle off 1939, a few months before the war. All the boys were born in Hull, the two eldest being pupils at St. Patrick’s School before being evacuated.
The newspaper report continued:
The newspaper report continued:
"Soon after war broke out, and Hull became the target of many heavy air raids, the three children were evacuated to West Cowick, near Snaith. There they have been cared for and are receiving their education. The boys’ 65 year old grandmother was, quite naturally, delighted with this good fortune. She explained that they were three healthy rough boys who ran through clothes and shoes quickly and that she was going to see them the following week to buy new clothes for Easter.
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Edwin Simmons’ CR.10 card.
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She said that most of the family were involved in the war effort: an older boy, Danny, aged 18, was serving in the Army somewhere in Yorkshire, the boys’ stepsister was working on munitions and their grandfather was also lost at sea, his ship being sunk when returning from the West Indies.
All three boys appear to have stayed in Hull and married in the city, two at least raising families there.
All three boys appear to have stayed in Hull and married in the city, two at least raising families there.
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Footnotes
- I am grateful to Ed Hardiman for bringing this newspaper report to my attention.
- Apparently Mrs. Jordan had recently remarried after being widowed.
- http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship516.html [accessed 03/07/2017]; http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx?cpage=1 [accessed 04/07/2017].