December 1942: Sent to the Middle East Officer Cadet Training Unit (O.C.T.U.).
April 1943: Commissioned and posted to the 909th L.A.A. (London) Regiment R.A., sent to Salerno in Italy.
“The tragic incident in which he lost his sight occurred on May 12th 1944, during the attack on Casino.He was standing in a jeep, leading his detachment over the Rapido River under cover of a smoke screen, when a mine exploded under the front wheels.
“He was sent back to Naples, and taken to St. Dunstan’s.”
– Isle of Man Examiner, Friday August 13 1948, front page “Triumph Over Adversity”
“The driver was killed and he was thrown a distance, terribly injured but he thought: ‘I must stand up or they’ll think I am dead.’”
– Newspaper clipping, origin unknown
“Mr [A. M.] Simcocks said there were three officers in the ward – a padre, a Canadian, and his son – and he says that one could not help being struck with their amazing fortitude and cheerfulness, which was quite infectious. They joked about all manner of things, and it really did one good to hear them.
“Lieutenant Simcocks was operated on at Naples, and when he regained consciousness he heard the voice of the surgeon saying, ‘I know you, and I know your brothers, Billy and Bert. I was at College with you fellows.’ This was Mr Geoffrey K. Tutton, of Stockport, who was at College from 1924 to 1930.”
– Isle of Man Times, Saturday 15 July 1944
Sir Ian Fraser
Ramsey Bignall Moore
6 June 1944: Arrived back in England and spent some time at St Dunstan’s (now Blind Veterans UK), where he convalesced and learnt to cope with his disability.
July 1945: Encouraged by Ramsey Moore and Sir Ian Fraser (MP and Chairman of St Dunstan’s), Howard studied to become an advocate. The Lieutenant Governor reduced the period of Howard’s articles from 5 to 3 years (it actually only took him 2 and a half years).
“He was assisted in his studies by retired Attorney General, Mr R. B. Moore, Deemster Arthur Luft, and Mr Stanley Allen, with whom he was later to practice in the firm Lay, Allen and Simcocks. All of them read law to him.”
– Manx Independent, 2 October 1990
His devoted sister Marjorie also read law to him.
14 August 1945: Son Christopher born to Howard and Mary.
March 1946: Passed the intermediary examination for admission to the Manx Bar.
“His many friends will be delighted to learn of his success, which is a triumph of perseverance over almost insurmountable difficulties.”
– Isle of Man Examiner, Friday 22 March 1946
Deemster W. P. Cowley
David Lay
January 1948: Passed final examination.
10 August 1948: Sworn in by Deemster Cowley.
October 1948: First appearance in court.
“With the aid of his secretary, attractive, dark-haired, Miss Helen Kinvig, Howard is now earning his living at Kelly, Moore and Kelly’s.”
– Isle of Man Times, Saturday 14 August 1948
7 February 1949: Acquired Lay and Lay (the practice of David Lay, which can be dated back to 1896 when his father, William Lay, set up his own law firm) and started Lay Allen & Simcocks at 31 Athol Street.
July 1951: Divorced Mary.
22 September 1951: Married Alice “Sally” Hall nee Barton.
1952: Stanley Allen was appointed a resident magistrate in Tanganyika, East Africa, and Howard continued to lead the practice on his own.
Stanley Allen and family before embarking on their new life in Africa
17 May 1953: Daughter Anne born to Howard and Sally.
3 December 1955: Elected secretary of the British Legion Isle of Man County.
April 1956: Elected to Malew Parochial Church Council.
6 November 1956: Elected MHK for Rushen (served until 1974).
“He is essentially modest. His pride is not in the honours he has achieved but in the indication they give that the people of the Island have confidence in him.”
– Isle of Man Examiner, Friday 9 November 1956
“Mrs Simcocks was a V. A. D. nurse and her brother was at St Dunstan’s with Mr Simcocks. Her support and encouragement has been an important factor in his career.
Howard in the 1950s
“And another to whom Howard is grateful is Miss Helen Kinvig, his secretary. She has been with him for nine years and plays an important part in his legal practice.
“‘That we are able to carry on a successful practice is entirely due to her.’”
– Isle of Man Examiner, Friday 9 November 1956
December 1956: Elected Chairman of Malew Parish Commissioners.
30 January 1957: Daughter Caroline born to Howard and Sally.
1968: Became first blind person to be a member of the Executive Committee of Manx Blind Welfare Society (now Sight Matters).
1972: Became Chairman of Water Authority (until 1982, and was instrumental in creation of Sulby Hydro-electric station at Tholt-y-Will).
1972: Awarded an MBE for services to the Royal British Legion in the Isle of Man.
22 October 1979: A. H. Simcocks & Co was formed, Lay Allen and Simcocks having ceased business three days previously.
Michael Kerruish
2 March 1981: Having been with the company for a few years, J. Michael Kerruish joined the A. H. Simcocks partnership. He was instrumental in the growth of the firm, before leaving in 1993 to become Attorney General.
June 1982: Opened a full time Castletown office.
1982: Became Captain of Malew Parish.
1982: Retired from politics.
1985: Stepped down as a partner in the company, continued to work as an associate.
1 September 1989: Company name changed to Simcocks.
1990: Retired to Winchester, to be near daughter Anne and grandchildren.
January 1995: Died at home in Winchester.
Howard outside the new Castletown office in 1982Howard meeting Princess Margaret in 1987 with Lieutenant Governor, Sir Laurence New, and Captain of Lezayre, Robert Edward Swain Kerruish JPHoward and Sally Simcocks, early 1990s
