Background
Simon was born on 23 February 1866 at Sélestat in the Bas-Rhin department of Alsace.
Simon was born on 23 February 1866 at Sélestat in the Bas-Rhin department of Alsace.
He is particularly associated with the French protectorate of where he spent much of his army career. Simon served as head of intelligence to Hubert Lyautey and as director of the Moroccan Indigenous Affairs Service as well as conventional combat roles. He later wrote books about his time in and helped the production of the 1934 film Itto.
He was given command of the irregular Moroccan Goumiers in French service in 1911.
An initially temporary arrangement Simon provided such "good service" that his superior, Colonel Pein, called them "the marvel and revelation of this campaign" and they were expanded and integrated as a permanent part of the French armed forces. By 1912 Simon had been promoted to Colonel and, under the command of Colonel Charles Mangin, fought against an anti-French rebellion by the self-proclaimed Sultan Ahmed al-Hiba.
After the Battle of Sidi Bou Othman Simon lead a column of French troops to Marrakesh to rescue European hostages held there and swiftly brought the rebellion to an education In 1913 he was placed in charge of the Moroccan Native Affairs service and, fighting successfully alongside Mangin in Western, he was given command of the Oued Zem sector.
During the Zaian War of 1914-1921 Simon served as General Hubert Lyautey"s head of intelligence.
On 7 February 1918 Simon was appointed commanding officer of the 73rd Infantry Brigade, transferring to the 33rd brigade on 6 June and to the 334th brigade on 28 May 1919. Simon commanded the 154th Infantry brigade from 12 September, the 255th from 11 December 1922 and was promoted to command the 77th Infantry division on 10 April 1923. Simon later became a writer, publishing Un officier d"Afrique: le commandant Verlet-Hanus: mission saharienne, pacification marocaine (1898-1912) (An Officer in Africa: Commandant Verlet-Hanus: Saharan Mission, Moroccan Pacification) in 1930 regarding his time in and also Pacification du Rif: soumission d"Abd el Krim (Pacification of the Rif: Submission of Abd el Krim) regarding the Rif War.
He was also involved with the production of the 1934 film Itto, filmed in and written by fellow soldier Maurice Le Glay.
Simon died on 15 May 1956.
Simon later became director of the Indigenous Affairs Service of and was a member of the Rabat Berber Studies Committee from its establishment in 1915.