Papers of Professor E.H.S. Simmonds

These Papers contain:
* Letters of condolence
* Obituaries and Biographies
* Cremation Information
* Donation Correspondence
* Memorial Service details
* Memorial lecture details
* Photographs
* Plan of N.M. Gregory Medical Departments, Sime Road Internment Camp, Singapore

Professor E.H.S. Simmonds was born in 1919 at Littlehampton, Sussex. He was educated at Lord Weymouth's school, Warminster. He was enrolled into a course that sponsored by the Institute of Bankers in 1937 because his father want him to be a distributor of agricultural machinery and farming supplies. But Simmonds enlisted in the ranks of the Royal House Artillery and was commissioned in 1940. He was involved in the Malayan Campaign and the surrender of Singapore. He spend four years as a prisoner of war in Singapore and Thai camps. After returning to England, he went to Keble College Oxford in 1946 to study English Language and Literature. However Simmonds continued to be interested in the Thai people and their culture, thus, leading to him teaching linguistics at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, from 1948. He remained at SOAS until his retirement in 1982 from the position of Professor of the Languages and Literatures of South East Asia.
Simmonds played also a major role in the Royal Asiatic Society. He became a Fellow in 1954 and served as Director (1965-68), Vice-President (1968-72 & 1976-80) and President (1973-76). He was married to Patricia Simmonds, actress and artist. He died in 1994.

This paper divided into series
* SS/1 - Letters of Condolence
* SS/2 - Obituaries and Biographies
* SS/3 - Cremation
* SS/4 - Donations
* SS/5 - Memorial Service
* SS/6 - Memorial Lecture
* SS/7 - Photographs
* SS/8 - Plan

Please contact the archivist using the email address givenej@royalasiaticsociety.org. The archive is open on Tuesday and Friday 10am-5pm, and Thursday 2-5pm. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone and email. Please bring photo ID.

This papers were given to Royal Asiatic Society by Greg Day, nephew of Patricia Simmonds on 23 July 2019

Professor E.H.S. Simmonds was born in 1919 at Littlehampton, Sussex. He was educated at Lord Weymouth's school, Warminster. He was enrolled into a course that sponsored by the Institute of Bankers in 1937 because his father want him to be a distributor of agricultural machinery and farming supplies. But Simmonds enlisted in the ranks of the Royal House Artillery and was commissioned in 1940. He was involved in the Malayan Campaign and the surrender of Singapore. He spend four years as a prisoner of war in Singapore and Thai camps. After returning to England, he went to Keble College Oxford in 1946 to study English Language and Literature. However Simmonds continued to be interested in the Thai people and their culture, thus, leading to him teaching linguistics at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, from 1948. He remained at SOAS until his retirement in 1982 from the position of Professor of the Languages and Literatures of South East Asia.
Simmonds played also a major role in the Royal Asiatic Society. He became a Fellow in 1954 and served as Director (1965-68), Vice-President (1968-72 & 1976-80) and President (1973-76). He was married to Patricia Simmonds, actress and artist. He died in 1994.

This catalogue was prepared by Vuthyneath Khut, SOAS Alphawood Intern, under the supervision of Nancy Charley, RAS archivist, in 2019.

Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.

These papers was owned by Mr & Mrs. Simmonds.

This Society has several publications by Simmonds. Details can be found in the Library Catalogue: https://ras.koha-ptfs.co.uk/.
The Society also has a portrait of Professor E.M.S. Simmonds, painted by his wife, donated by Greg Day in May 2019.

Published

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