SIMMS, Arthur DSC

Arthur Simms lived at Farlands House, Old Swinford, and was educated at Malvern College. His father was a director of Noah Hingley and Sons of Netherton. On leaving Malvern he volunteered for flying training and joined the Royal Naval Air Service, which in 1918 merged to become the RAF. He was an accomplished flyer and was posted to Grain, Kent, where he flew Channel patrols searching out enemy submarines. For his skill he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. In 1918 he became an instructor and test pilot, being promoted to Captain. However, while testing the new Fairey IIIa biplane on a flight to Sunderland on the 14th July, his aircraft crashed. He died the same day of his wounds in a Sunderland hospital. His funeral service took place in Oldswinford church and he is buried in Stourbridge Cemetery (K192) in his family grave. Captain Arthur Simms was 20 years of age and is commemorated on the Stourbridge, Oldswinford church and Malvern College Memorials. There is a special memorial to him in St. Mary's, Oldswinford.