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404100 Warrant Officer John Francis SIMMONS.
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. A. Simmons of Dunedin.

John SIMMONS was born at Dunedin on the 10th May, 1916. He received his secondary education at the Dunedin Technical College where he took the engineering course. His sports were football and cycle racing. His civilian occupation was that of a motor engineer in the employ of the New Zealand Railways and he was so employed when in November, 1939, he applied for war service in the R.N.Z.A.F.

Warrant Officer Simmons was enlisted for training as aircrew at the Ground Training School, Levin on the 27th October 1940. On the 5th December he embarked on the "Aorangi" at Auckland to proceed to Canada for training under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada, Warrant Officer Simmons was posted on the 23rd December 1940 to No. 2 Wireless School, Calgary, Alberta. He was posted on the 26th May, 1941 to No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School, Dafoe, Saskatchewan, where on the 23rd June, 1941 he was awarded his flying badge as an air gunner and promoted from L.A.C. to Sergeant. He was promoted to Flight Sergeant on the 1st January, 1942 and to Warrant Officer on the 1st April 1943. Meanwhile on the 30th June, 1941 he had proceeded to No. 1 "M" Depot, Debert, Nova Scotia to await embarkation for the United Kingdom.

Warrant Officer Simmons arrived at No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth on the 28th July 1941, and was posted on the 6th August, to No. 2 Radio School, Yatesbury, Wiltshire. On the 31st October, he was posted to No. 1 Air Armament School, Manby, Lincolnshire. He was posted on the 5th January, 1942, to No. 21 Operational Training Unit, Edge Hill, Oxfordshire, where he crewed up and completed his training on Wellington bomber aircraft. On the 6th May, 1942, he was attached to No. 15 Operational Training Unit, Harwell, Berkshire to await proceeding on a delivery flight, to the Middle East.