Sharpes Books

A Bloody Good Read

Sir Henry Simmerson

Lt Colonel of the South Essex Regiment and MP for Paglesham, and Justice of the Peace

Sir Henry makes personal appearances in two of the Sharpe's Books. First appearing as the Lt Colonel and founder of the South Essex. And later appearing again in Sharpe's Regiment as MP for Pagglesham and still meddling in the affairs of the regiment.

In his first encounter he brings the newly formed South Essex to the peninsular war, very much as the mouth piece for his cousin General Sir Banestre Tarleton, who wished to portray rival general Sir Arthur Welsey in a bad light.

His intention was that South Essex should be the best regiment in the Army, but he lacked military experience and was overly reliant on the military rule books and harsh methods of physical punishment.

His time in the army was short lived in his first encounter with enemy he managed to loose 200 men and a standard for no apparent reason, and then tried to pin the blame for his poor leadership on Lieutenant Richard Sharpe. He then incited a mutiny amongst his men, which was easily debt with By Richard sharpe, and finally at the Battle of Talevera he retreated in front of the enemy against orders. After these three military disasters he was sent home from the war in disgrace.

He then appears again in Sharpe's Regiment complicit with Lord Fenner and Lt Colonel Girdwood, in dissolution the of the South Essexs second regiment and the 'crimping' of its men off to other regiments. Again Sharpe is responsible for thwarting his scheme and only a political resolution form Lord Fenner and Lady Anne prevent Scandal.

Henry Simmerson and Richard Sh

arpe despise each other from the first moment they first meet. Simmerson does not hold any regard for people of a lower class and sees Lieutenant Sharpe as an uncouth upstart. Sharpe sees Simmerson as a corrupt, deluded and dangerous officer.

Sir Henry is Guardian to his nephew Christian Gibbons who serves with him in the South Essex who is killed by Sharpe on the Battlefield of Talevera, and his sister Jane Gibbons who Sharpe goes on to marry.

Sharpe Books Featuring Sir Henry Simmerson

Sharpe's Eagle
Sharpe's Regiment

Henry Simmerson in the Sharpe TV Series

Henry Simmerson is wonderfully well played by Michael Cochrane in the TV series