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Alfred J D Simey was born on the 9th May 1875 in Sunderland, Co. Durham. He worked as an analyst at the Bass Brewery there for 3 years before applying to join the RIC as an officer cadet on the 27th January 1900, register number 59415.

Whilst in training at the Phoenix Park Depot (alongside my own grandfather, number 59393) he saw duty during the visit of Queen Victoria to Ireland, for which he was awarded the Visit to Ireland Medal 1900 (Cadet A.J.D. Simey R.I.C.).



He subsequently served as District Inspector in Tipperary (Killenaule); Limerick (New Pallas) and Cork (Cork City) before volunteering for service in the Great War. He was given a temporary commission as Captain in the Army Services Corps from 18 Dec 1915 to 13 Feb 1919. No doubt due to his policing background he was made Assistant Provost Marshal of the 6th Division in France; a responsibility which placed him in a most tragic position.

The story of those soldiers shot for desertion or cowardice in the face of the enemy is well known, and the arguments for or against those battlefield executions are better discussed on other sites; however it was a fact that the role of the APM was to command the firing squad at those executions.

It is known that Simey was present at the executions of several of those poor men 'Shot at Dawn'; Private Harry Farr (18/10/1916); Sapper F. Malyon (4/4/1917); Pte Wilfred Clarke (9/2/1918) and Pte Joseph Nisbet (23/8/1918).

He left his role as APM in August 1918, and possibly this was when he was poisoned by gas. He was awarded the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Croix de Guerre. Returning to the RIC he served again in Tipperary (Newport) and then Kerry (Kenmare) from April 1921 until disbandment.

Kenmare RIC Barracks