On the Arras Flying Memorial is the name of 2nd Lieutenant (Reserve) John Basil Palling Simms, serving with the 20th Battalion, (1st Tyneside Scottish), Northumberland Fusiliers, attached to the 3rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, and 4th Squadron Royal Flying Corps, who died 04/06/1918.

John Basil Palling Simms was born at 14 Claremont Place, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on the 18th July 1898, the son of the late Henry Simms, Bank Manager of the National Provincial Bank of England Ltd., and his wife Frances Esther [119 Jesmond Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne], daughter of the late John G. Palling of Castleton, near Cardiff. They had three children, two daughters and one son John.

John was educated at the Newcastle Preparatory School, located at 6 Eslington Road, Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4RH, and Shrewsbury School [Mr Chance's House]. He was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers on the 1st August 1917. But was transferred to the 20th Battalion [1st Tyneside Scottish], Northumberland Fusiliers on the 21st August 1917.

Went to France and Flanders from the 25th September 1917.

John Basil Palling Simms was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in January 1918, in to the 4th Squadron, and returned to France on the 25th April 1918. He was an observer and was killed with his pilot Lieutenant A. H. Maltby, on the 4th June 1918 whilst flying in a R.E 8., over the German lines due to enemy fire. He was unmarried. Age 19.

De Ruvigny Roll of Honour

Flight Magazine entry for June 20th 1918 reads as follows:-

"Second Lieutenant John Basil Palling Simms, Fifth Fusiliers, attached R.A.F., who was killed in action on June 4th aged 19, was the only son of the late Henry Simms and of Mrs Simms, Jesmond Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne".

John Basil Palling Simms is remembered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on NUT096 and NUT 103

4th Squadron RFC History
Shropshires Sacrifice in the Great War.
RAF Museum Archives
The CWGC entry for 2nd Lieutenant Simms