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Simmons, James Egbert, 1810-1857 (Major)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1810 - 1857

Biography

James Egbert Simmons (1810-57), of Jersey and later Langford, Somerset. Joined the 2nd Queen's Royal Regiment in 1832, and served with his regiment in the first Afghan War in 1839. Appointed Captain in the Royal Canadian Rifles Regiment in 1841; joined the Northumberland Fusiliers in 1843. Posted to Mauritius with his regiment in 1847; promoted to the rank of Major in 1854. From there he wrote a series of letters to his widowed mother at Langford. His regiment was posted to Calcutta to help quell the Sepoy Mutiny and was involved in the relief of Lucknow. In an assault of sepoy guns at Cawnpore in September 1857, he was shot in the mouth and died of his wounds shortly after.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

 Fonds

James Simmons: Letters from Mauritius

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.9549
Scope and Contents

102 letters to his mother, 1847-55, (1 to 'Jack', 1 letter of appointment, 1 letter jointly written by Simmons and his girl friend, who writes in French); describing aspects of life in Mauritius.

Dates: 1847-1855
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).