 Ramba uchinyora ndima iyi - Pakatanga Hondo Yenyika Yokutanga, Symonds akasiya zvidzidzo zvake zvokurapa ndokujoina Hondo yeBritain, achishanda somutasvi wedzimotokari muchikamu chemudhudhudhu cheRoyal Engineers. Akabatanidzwa kuChikamu chekutanga masosi haana kujeka kana ichi chaive Chikamu chekutanga cheVashandi kana Chikamu chekutanga cheVashandi, akaona chiito paKudzokera kuMons, ipapo muhondo dzeMarne neAisne. Akakuvadzwa pakutanga kweMujaho weGungwa muna September 1914, uye akapiwa Médaille militaire, uye akabva adzokera kuzvidzidzo zvake zvechiremba paGuys. 