Charles Simmons

Here is a detailed profile of Charles James “Jim” Simmons (9 April 1893 – 11 August 1975), the British lecturer, journalist, and Labour politician:

Introduction

Charles Simmons, often known as Jim Simmons, was a committed Labour politician, social reformer, and advocate for veterans’ rights. He combined his religious convictions (as a Primitive Methodist lay preacher) with socialist beliefs, and his political career spanned local governance, war-time activism, and multiple terms in Parliament.

Early Life & Background

• Simmons was born on April 9, 1893, in Moseley, Birmingham, England.

• From a young age he was religiously active and became a Primitive Methodist lay preacher at age 16.

• During World War I, he served in the Worcestershire Regiment, seeing action in France, Egypt, and Gallipoli.

• He was wounded three times. His last injury, at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in Spring 1916, resulted in the amputation of his lower leg.

• While in the army he was twice imprisoned: once for protesting harsh field punishments, and once for appearing in uniform at a peace rally.

• After being discharged in November 1917, he continued campaigning for peace. In February 1918 he was arrested and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in Armley Gaol.

Involvement in Veterans’ Issues & Early Political Engagement

• Simmons became a leading figure in the National Union of Ex-Servicemen (NUX), which advocated for rights and support of veterans returning from the war.

• Even after NUX declined in influence, he remained active locally and, later in Parliament, championed the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association (BLESMA).

• He identified as a Christian Socialist and participated in the Labour Church movement, linking his religious convictions with his political activism.

• At the municipal level, he served on Birmingham City Council from 1921–1931 and again from 1942–1945.

Parliamentary Career

MP for Birmingham Erdington (1929–1931)

• Simmons first stood for Birmingham Erdington in 1924 and was defeated.

• He contested it again in 1929 and narrowly defeated the incumbent Conservative MP, Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland, by 133 votes, aided by a three-cornered race with a Liberal candidate.

• His victory was somewhat controversial: a leaflet he issued accused Steel-Maitland of misusing a charitable fund to subsidize colliery owners, which prompted a threatened libel suit. Simmons issued a formal apology.

• In the 1931 election, amidst a swing against Labour, Simmons lost the seat by a considerable margin.

Between the Wars & Journalism

• After losing his seat, Simmons attempted a comeback in 1935 and a 1936 by-election following the death of his successor, but was unsuccessful.

• During the Second World War and the interim years, he turned to journalism, editing Town Crier, the journal of the Birmingham Trades Council (from 1940 to 1945).

Return to Parliament & Government Posts

• In 1945, Simmons was elected MP for Birmingham West as part of Labour’s landslide victory.

• In the post-war Labour government, he held governmental roles:
  ? • Lord of the Treasury (assistant whip) from March 30, 1946 to February 1, 1949 ? • Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Pensions (1949–1951)

• After boundary changes, he became MP for Brierley Hill in 1950. He held that seat through the 1955 election but was defeated in 1959.

• Simmons was known to support temperance causes, including campaigning to ban 14-year-olds from bars in clubs. Some observers believe his advocacy on alcohol may have contributed to opposition from brewery interests in his later electoral defeat.

Writing & Autobiography

• Later in life, Simmons published his autobiography Soap-Box Evangelist (1972).

Personality, Beliefs & Influence

• Simmons’s worldview combined religious conviction with social justice: his identity as a lay preacher and Christian Socialist shaped how he approached politics, especially veterans’ welfare and moral reforms.

• His own war injuries and experience lent authenticity to his advocacy for ex-servicemen, particularly those with disabilities.

• He was a vocal and principled figure, willing to criticize abuses, even at personal cost (as in the libel episode).

• His career illustrates the interplay of faith, social activism, and parliamentary politics in mid-20th century Britain.

Legacy & Death

• Charles James “Jim” Simmons died on August 11, 1975, at the age of 82.

• He is remembered for his championing of veterans’ rights, moral causes like temperance, and his example of integrating faith and politics.