| Frank Keith Simmons | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1888 |
| Died | 1952 (aged 63 or 64) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1921-1946 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Singapore |
| Awards | Military Cross, CBE, MVO |
Major General Frank Keith Simmons CBE, MVO, MC, (1888–1952)[1] was a British commander during World War II. Prior to the war, he had served as a Military Attache to Spain from 1928 until 1936, whereupon he served in British mandated Palestine[1] as a lieutenant colonel, accompanied by his wife.[2] He was the commanding officer of British forces in Shanghai in 1939 and 1940[3][4] and later the commander of British defences at the Singapore Fortress in 1941, prior to its fall in 1942.[4]
An ardent supporter of the concept that defence construction was detrimental to troop morale,[5] Simmons was eventually placed in command of a committee to ascertain the readiness of Singapore's defences as the Japanese invasion became apparent.[6][7] He was appointed to "develop" the defence plan by Lieutenant General Arthur Percival.[8] As the situation worsened for the Allies, Simmons was one of a few commanders privy to Percival's last-ditch defence plans[9] and his "no surrender" policy of 11 February 1942.[10]
During the final days of the battle, Simmons was transferred and ordered to command the British forces in the 'Southern Area' of the battlefield,[1][11] when the decision to surrender became apparent he joined fellow commanders in voicing the opinion that continued resistance was ill-advised.[12] Simmons spent the next three years as a prisoner of war in Japan, prior to his release in 1945 and retirement in 1946.[1]