Simon was born in 1921 in Prestwich, Manchester to Bernard and Elise née Rosensweig and he had five siblings, Marcus, Isidore, Rita, Adela and Ettie. Their father Bernard worked as a tailor’s presser. As a boy Simon was a member of the 283rd Manchester (Jewish) Boy Scouts.

Simon married Golda (Gladys) Rickless in April 1941 in Manchester. Their son David was born in 1942.

Simon was the pilot of Halifax JB 852 which departed RAF Elvington on a night operation to Krefeld. The aircraft was hit by flak and crashed NNE of Ede, Holland killing all the crew. It was Simon’s third operation.

A/G, Edmund Dawson, 1322722
Nav, Charles William Falckh, 1681266
A/G, William Goodman Garratt, 1144424
W/Op, Norman Victor Hickling, 1272101
A/B, Raymond Geoffrey Kingsland, 658993
F/E, John Phillips, 643976