Arthur Donald Simmons

War Service

Arthur Donald Simmons was a 20 year old pilot in the RAF, killed in a flying accident 26th February 1919. Two years before he had joined the Royal Flying Corps after being a Cadet in the Inns of Court officer training battalion, which was formed in 1917. He soon showed capability and was awarded his wings. During the war he was employed in taking some of the ‘Bristol Fighter’ machines to France, and also helped in the defence of London during several air raids. He was one of the escorts between the coast and London for Sir Douglas Haig on the Marshall’s visit.
He was stationed with 44 Squadron at RAF Hinault aerodrome. On the day of the accident 7 single seat Sopwith Camel Scout aircraft took off for a routine formation flying exercise to Sutton Farm aerodrome at Hornchurch. Having taken off for the return journey his aircraft got into the backwash of another plane which caused him to spin at about 2000ft, and spiral downwards. It was quite ordinary to see a machine get into a spin like that, and normal to expect him to get out of it. He was found to have been killed instantaneously. An inquest heard evidence that the machine was in good order.
The inquest held at The Bull, Hornchurch, conducted by a Havering Coroner found “he died from injuries owing to his machine getting in a spin and falling to ground.”
His body was brought to Knottingley accompanied by an escort of airmen under Lieut Marsh and the internment took place at Knottingley Cemetery. Much sympathy goes out to Mrs Lawson and the deceased’s brother (still in France or Germany) and his sister.
Hull Daily Mail 3rd March 1919. ROLL OF HONOUR
“SIMMONS - February 26th at Chadwell Heath Essex, killed whilst flying, - Lieutenant Arthur Donald Simmons, youngest son of the late Captain and Ms G T Simmons, and a dearly loved brother of Mrs E Paskell, 46 Plane Street, Hull.”
Hull Daily Mail 4th March 1919. DEATH ANNOUNCEMENTS
“SIMMONS - second son of the late Captain G T & Mrs Simmons and nephew of Mrs E Lawson, Hill Top, Knottingley. Internment at Knottingley Cemetery on 4th March 1919 at 2.30.”

Family Life

Thomas Simmons a Master Mariner was born in Malden, Essex and on 25 Sept 1845 at St Giles Pontefract married Sophia Barff and had children: Hargrave (1847); Thomas Preston (1848); Rosina (1853); George Thomas (1856). Thomas died 17 Jan 1884 aged 61 and Sophia 4 Oct 1889 aged 71, both buried in Wesleyan burial ground where there is a memorial stone. Thomas had been the major shareholder and Captain of a fine sailing ship “John Martin” built at Knottingley in 1865.
George Thomas Simmons born 1856 married 6 Sept 1887 in Hull to Margaret Furneaux a Widow (formerly Martin) and she already had a daughter Henrietta Martin Furneaux. There were 3 children from this marriage: Maude Sophia (1890); George [Thomas?] (1892) and Arthur Donald (1899). Henrietta the half sister married Enoch Paskell.
George Thomas the father died 14 April 1903 and Margaret died 13 April 1906, so at the age of 6/7 Arthur was orphaned.
In the 3rd quarter of 1875, registered at Stockton, Rosina Simmons had married Edwin Lawson, who appears to have worked all his life at Carters Brewery in Knottingley, starting as an office clerk to become Managing Director. They lived at Hill Top House at the top of Brewery Lane but had no children.
At the time of 1911 census Maude Sophia is living with her aunt Rosina in Knottingley, bur Arthur Donald is recorded as a 12 year old living in the Anlaby Road Workhouse in Hull. The History Centre in Hull say no records showing admittance and discharge for this establishment have survived, so it is not possible to say if Arthur went there in 1906.
In the funeral report (Pontefract & Castleford Express 7 Mar 1919) it states that Arthur lived with his aunt Rosina at Hill Top for many years, but I have no evidence of this.
Edwin Lawson died 18 May 1914, and Rosina 12 December1921, both buried in Knottingley Cemetery where there is memorial stone which includes Arthur Donald Summons.
Arthur Donald Simmons appears on Hull War Memorial, Knottingley War Memorial and Cemetery, and Rosina had a memorial window commemorated to him erected in St Botolph‘s Church.