John Henry Fitzsimons was the son of Charles Edward and Jeanie Fitzsimons. He was born in Coagh, County Tyrone on 16th November 1894. He was one ten children. John’s father was a constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary, which may explain why the family moved around quite regularly. They lived in Coagh, Cookstown and Benburb. By 1911, the family were living in Aughnacloy and John was a draper’s apprentice in Belfast. John Henry Fitzsimons enlisted in Belfast. Corporal John Henry Fitzsimons was serving with the 14th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he died in his first engagement. He was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916.
Thiepval is a village about 8 kilometres north-east of Albert. The Cemetery (signposted in the village) is on the edge of Thiepval Wood near the Ulster Tower, about one kilometre north-west of Thiepval on the Thiepval-Hamel road (D73).
