Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Frederick Edwin Zuling Sims was born on 30 December 1893 at Fairlie, the second son of Francis Albert (Frank) and Louisa Sarah (née Pearce) Sims. He was baptised in 1894. Francis and Louisa married in 1891 and had three sons and three daughters, the second and third children being born at Fairlie. Frank (senior) who was a rabbiter spent considerable time in South Canterbury (Fairlie, Pleasant Point, Opuha, Sutherlands). He was also a patient at Seaciff. He and Louisa were often apart. Frederick was educated at Forbury, Macandrew Road and Caversham schools in Dunedin. When Frederick and his siblings attended various Dunedin schools, their father was most often named parent/guardian. Only for the two youngest at Mornington School in 1912 was their mother named. The youngest was at the Anglican Home when he went to Andersons Bay School in 1919. Fred went on to study portmanteau and bag making at Dunedin Technical classes from 1909.

Frederick Edwin Sims was an assistant saddler at home in Dunedin when he enlisted at Dunedin on 21 August 1914. Single and of Church of England affiliation, he named his father as next-of-kin – Francis Albert Sims, 9 Laing’s Road, Mornington, Dunedin. After his father’s “death”, Mrs L. S. Sims (mother), 98 St Andrews Street, Dunedin, became next-of-kin. He had served with the school Cadets and Boy Scouts. He had been previously rejected for military service on account of bad eyesight. He was under height and had a squint but was suitable for the Army Service Corps. Trooper F. E. Sims embarked with the Otago Mounted Rifles, Main Body, departing from Port Chalmers for Suez, Egypt on 16 October 1914, the same day as his brother Frank.

‘Private Prank Sims, writing to his mother, Mrs F. A. Sims, 9 Laing’s road, Mornington, says: — Fred and I are both well, and so far have escaped injury. We are quite proud of ourselves. If some of the shirkers could only see their suffering countrymen and then'refuse to come and help, I think you women folk should get some rifles and help hunt them out of this world. I have attended to a goodly number of wounded, and have had some narrow escapes. One day a shell burst over a crowd of ns, wounding chums on both sides, but Providence must be on our side. We received the parcel all right. When you ere sending a parcel again don’t forget to enclose a packet of cornflour, or anything light that we can cook readily. A tin of sherbert or dried rnilk wonld be most acceptable. I have seen plenty of Turks, both dead and alive. I see plenty of aeroplanes, and admire the pluck of the aviators. It’s just splendid to see them ascend, sometimes amid heavy fire, just as if they were indulging in practice. Sometimes their object is to drop bombs on the enemy, and on other occasions to give the range to our battleshins. My word, when the Queen Elizabeth fires her big guns you would think the world had come to an end.’ [Evening Star, 20 August 1915.] Frank’s brother Frederick Edwin Sims had also enlisted on the outbreak of war.

Honoured for bravery in the field, 9/656 Private Frederick Edwin Sims, Dunedin, was awarded the Military Medal in 1918. ‘Mrs Louisa Sims, of Mornington, has received information from the Minister of Defenoe that her son, Trooper Frederick E. Sims, has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in action. Trooper Sims left New Zealand as a member of the Otago Mounted Rifles in the Main Body, and was among the mounted men who proceeded from Egypt to Gallipoli to serve as infantrymen. After the evacuation of Gallipoli he proceeded to France, and was at the front continuously through the war up to the date of the armistice. He is a native of Fairlie, South Canterbury, and was educated at the Caversham and Kensington Schools and Technical College, Dunedin. He served his apprenticeship with J. K Butler, Ltd., and was in the employ of that firm at the time of his enlistment.’ [Otago Daily Times, 19 February 1919.]

Frederick Edwin Sims returned home per the “Kia Ora”, embarking at Liverpool on 27 March 1919 and arriving on 9 May 1919. He was discharged on 6 June 1919, after 4 years 205 days of overseas service, and was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, in addition to his Military Medal. Returning to Dunedin, he resided with his mother and took up employment as a leather bag maker.

‘A large number of British and foreign decorations awarded to Otago soldiers for deeds of bravery on active service will bo presented by Colonel T. W. M’Donald (O.C. district) on Thursday night [22 January 1920] at the Drill Hall. The officer commanding willbe pleased to see present as many members as possible of all local bodies and a large attendance of the general public, to show their appreciation of the great services rendered by these men to their country. A parade of local troops has been called. Local members of Parliament will also be asked to attend. . . . . . . Following is a list of those to whom decorations have been awarded — Distinguished Conduct Medal. —

. . . . . . . . . .

— Military Medal. —

. . . . . . . . . .

Trooper F. E. Sims, Dunedin.

. . . . . . . . . .’ [Evening Star, 20 January 1920.]

Frederick Edwin Zuling Sims married Mary Gertrude Knowles in 1923. Frederick and Mary who had four sons, resided in Dunedin until their respective deaths. Frederick pursued various occupations – motor driver, coal merchant, storeman, and finally a clerk. He served in New Zealand for a year in World War Two, his eldest son, Edwin Neville Sims also serving. Frederick Edwin Zuling Sims died at Cherry Farm Hospital, Waikouaiti (of Dunedin) on 8 May 1966, aged 72 years. He was cremated, his ashes interred in the Soldiers section of Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin, and a Services plaque marking his plot. When Mary Gertrude Sims died in August 1990, her ashes were interred in this plot. Frederick’s older brother Francis Albert George Sims also served in World War One, and his younger brother James Alfred Sims served in World War Two. Their father, Francis Albert Sims, who had suffered a paralytic stroke, died in January 1946 at Dunedin and was buried in a family plot in the Northern Cemetery. Their mother, Louisa Sarah Sims, who mostly recorded herself as a widow from about 1919, had moved to Auckland by 1941, probably to be closer to a daughter. She died there in March 1952 and was cremated, her ashes interred at Waikumete Cemetery.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [21 April 2026]; NZ Times, 11 February 1919, Timaru Herald, 11 February 1919, Otago Daily Times, 19 February 1919, Otago Witness, 26 February 1919, Evening Star, 20 January 1920 (Papers Past) [22 April 2026]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [20 April 2026]; School Admission records [22 April 2026]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [22 April 2026]; Andersons Bay Cemetery plaque image & cremation & burial records (Dunedin City Council) [22 April 2026]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.