author

George Simmons

1785–1858

A fighting officer who turned lived experience into vivid military writing, his journals and letters offer a close-up view of the Peninsular War and Waterloo. His work is prized for its detail, immediacy, and the grounded voice of someone who was there.

1 Audiobook

A British Rifle Man The Journals and Correspondence of Major George Simmons, Rifle Brigade, During the Peninsular War and the Campaign of Waterloo

A British Rifle Man The Journals and Correspondence of Major George Simmons, Rifle Brigade, During the Peninsular War and the Campaign of Waterloo

by George Simmons

About the author

Born in Beverley, Yorkshire, in 1785, George Simmons served as a British Army officer in the Napoleonic Wars, most famously with the 95th Rifles. He was badly wounded at Waterloo and retired from the army after a long career.

Simmons is remembered as the author behind A British Rifle Man, a collection of his journals and correspondence published after his lifetime. The book stands out for its firsthand account of campaigning, battle, and army life, and it has remained a valued source for readers interested in the Peninsular War and the Waterloo campaign.

Before entering the army, he is described in reliable sources as having studied medicine, a detail that adds another layer to the practical, observant quality of his writing. His reputation today rests less on literary pose than on clarity, honesty, and the rare perspective of a soldier writing from direct experience.