Simon qualified as a badged guide (Badge 108) in May 2020 and retired from the British Army in November 2022.
He originally served in the Royal Air Force before leaving to pursue a career in the oil industry, and also serving as a reserve officer. Rather to his surprise he ended up joining the Regular Army somewhat later in life than planned.
Simon has served on operations in Gulf War 1, Kosovo, Sierra Leone (as a United Nations Military Observer), Iraq (where he ran Basrah Fire Brigade) and twice as an aviation planner in Afghanistan (including a tour with the US Marine Corps). He has worked at battlegroup, brigade and divisional level.
He has served as the Operations Officer in the Attack Helicopter Force HQ, and as the aviation specialist in the Collective Training Group at the Land Warfare Centre. He has delivered training to brigade and division HQs, particularly in the use of aviation, air assault planning and air land integration.
Simon works for one of the major tour guide companies and regularly guides tours for military and school groups in Normandy, and the Western Front battles of WW1. He has also undertaken a number of direct engagements for military and other groups including HQ level staff rides. He has guided Operation Market Garden and the Sicily landings.
He is particularly interested in Normandy in WW2 (particularly the British 6th Airborne Division) and in all aspects of air power in WW1 and WW2.
He is also passionate about the American Civil War, particularly Gettysburg and the Eastern theatre battles.