Researching Charles Simmons

He was born on 24 December 1885 in Islington, London. He was part of the British team, which won the bronze medal in the gymnastics men's team, European system event in 1912. In the individual all-around competition he finished 28th.

Simmons worked as a physical training instructor. He married Winifred Ada Loveland on 23 May 1914 at St Marks Church, Tollington Park, London and had four children, the youngest of whom was the actress Jean Simmons. He died on 15 February 1945 in London.

Simmons was born in Moseley, Birmingham. Following elementary education, he became a Primitive Methodist lay preacher at the age of 16. In World War I he served in the Worcestershire Regiment, seeing action in France, Egypt and Gallipoli. He was twice imprisoned whilst in the army, for protesting against field punishments and for appearing in uniform at a peace rally. He was wounded three times, the last at Vimy in Spring 1916, as a result of which his lower leg was amputated. Discharged from the army in November 1917 he continued campaigning for peace but was arrested in February 1918 and sentenced to three months imprisonment in Armley Gaol.

After WW1, Simmons became a leading member of the National Union of Ex-Servicemen (NUX), a socialist group which fought for the rights of those returning from the war. Following the demise of the NUX as a national body, Simmons remained active on these issues in local organisations and when later elected to Parliament lobbied persistently on behalf of the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association (BLESMA). A Christian Socialist, he also played a leading role in the Labour Church movement.

He gained political office as a member of Birmingham City Council from 1921–1931 and 1942–1945.

He was formerly an editor of The New York Times Book Review. Simmons graduated from Regis High School and then Columbia University in 1948.