He did a commercial course at Sydenham College of Commerce & Economics, Bombay and completed his articles in April 1941.
Simmons joined the Royal Indian Navy Volunteer Reserve on 1 May 1941 - in World War II - as an Executive Sub-Lieutenant.
Prior to being given his first sea billet he topped the examination lists in subjects such as Signals & Navigation, competing against Officers.
Although there was a Lieutenant of the Executive Branch also serving on the ship who was more senior, he was selected as the more capable Second-In-Command, which required permission from Naval Headquarters.
Prior to the invasion of Burma, he was a member of the team of Officers who made a survey of the beaches and approaches to the Arakan Coast, in order to facilitate the landings that were planned by the Army Command.
In 1948 he was one of six officers selected from the entire Indian Navy for a period of training with the British Mediterranean Fleet, where he served for three months on HMS Ocean, an aircraft carrier.
During this time at Cochin, Simmons received Marshal Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Lord Louis Mountbatten.
9 Years Long Service Medal "Well known in Bombay social circles" [1] Simmons had a successful career at Burma Shell and GAC (Gulf Agency Corporation) after the Navy.