Captain Herbert William Symons was born in Fulford, Yorkshire on the 17th November 1884. He was the son of Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Charles Symons (formerly commanding officer Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) and Ada Clara Symons of "Marrowells", Springfield, Chelmsford.. He attended Uppingham boarding school 1898-1902. He was gazetted to the 1st Battalion KOYLI as a 2nd Lieutenant on 13th January 1904, and joined the regiment at Aldershot on 15th February 1904. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 4th September 1906 and Captain on the 9th September 1911. He was employed with the West African Frontier Force from 29th March 1911 to 4th March 1914. He was then attached to the Somaliland Camel Corps. He was mentioned in dispatches, and received a Royal Humane Society testimonial for saving the life of a comrade. He was killed in action on 19th November 1914 aged 30 during the action at Shimber Berris. Whilst leading his men in an attack on one of the mud forts, he was shot in the back of the head by a dervish bullet.

Dale Symons