Herbert Rutter Simms was born in Chipping Norton in 1891. He was a keen aviation enthusiat and by 1910 had built 2 aircraft of his own design. In 1909 he became an apprentice at AV Roe in Manchester, taking flying lessons in lieu of wages. He passed his flying certificate aged 21 and became a flying instructor, getting engaged to one of his pupils. He joined the Royal Navy Air Service in July1915 as a sul-flight Lieutenant. He had at least 2 kills in the Nieuport Mk11, based at Chingford Naval Station. On 15th May 1916 he was shot down by a German torpedo boat whist engaging a saeplane off Ostend. He was aged 24.

Steve Kingsford