For operations on D-Day, Gunner DENNIS SIMMONS was attached to the 53 (The Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Light Regiment, Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Anthony 'Tony' D. M. Teacher,¹ SIMMONS was part of a Forward Observation Officer (FOO) party for the 3rd Parachute Brigade, 6th Airborne Division.

Gunner Dennis Simmons was flying into Normandy by Horsa glider (Chalk Mark No.125) but as the glider approached the French coastline it was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crash landed in the sea. His body was later found on the beach at Franceville-Plage.²

Two Horsa glider loads made up the Forward Observation Officer (FOO) party, for 3rd Parachute Brigade:

Both gliders took off from Tarrant Rushton 0145 hours, 6th June 1944, as part of the third wave of airborne troops in Operation TONGA. They were towed by Handley Page Halifax Mark V heavy bombers from 298 Squadron, Royal Air Force.

The Halifax Mark V, towing Glider Chalk Mark No. 125, was LL348, piloted by Flight Sergeant J. B. MUTTON.³ There planned destination was Drop Zone/Landing Zone N near the village of Ranville, east of the River Orne at 0320 hours.⁴

Glider Chalk No.125⁵ was piloted by Staff Serjeant GEORGE EDWARD PHILLPOTT and Serjeant ERIC MANLEY TAYLOR.

The glider load was a Jeep and trailer, motorcycle and 7 troops (including the 2 glider pilots):

Captain RICHARD STANLEY BELLERBY,

94 (The Dorset and Hampshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment,

Lance Bombardier KENNETH SARGENT RODWELL,^*

94 (The Dorset and Hampshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, attached to 53 (The Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Light Regiment,

Gunner ROBERT THOMAS DENNISON,

53 (The Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Light Regiment,

Gunner DENNIS SIMMONS,

2 Airlanding Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, attached to 53 (The Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Light Regiment

Gunner JOHN RUSSELL,

53 (The Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Light Regiment,

Only 2 bodies were recovered, washed up on the shores of Normandy. They were Gunner ROBERT DENNISON (buried in BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY) and Gunner DENNIS SIMMONS (now buried in TILLY-SUR-SEULLES WAR CEMETERY). The bodies of the remaining 5 men were never recovered and their names are now commemorated on BAYEUX MEMORIAL.

Further information about the 53 (The Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Light Regiment can be found in the biography of Lieutenant Colonel A. D. M. Teacher.⁶

Gunner DENNIS SIMMONS with his wife Kathleen and daughter Brenda.⁷

Casualty Card for Gunner DENNIS SIMMON.

As a child DENNIS SIMMONS (left) was a pearly prince.

His family were coster mongers and his grandfather, the Pearly King of Hammersmith,

had a stall at Hammersmith Market.

His Aunt Liz (right) was Pearly Queen of Hammersmith.

The 2 photographs above⁸ were taken in 1922 by renowned photographer Emile Otto Hoppé

The portraits, showing life in London during the first half of the 20th century,

have been displayed in the National Portrait Gallery in London and form part of a larger,

and international acclaimed, portfolio by one of the great photograhers of the 20th century.

Pearly Prince DENNIS SIMMONS (left) with Lord and Lady Lonsdale,

at one of the coster monger shows.

Record of Service for Gunner DENNIS SIMMON.⁹