Frank Simpson ( cricketer ) Colonel Frank William Simpson DSO OBE ( – ) was a British Army officer who also played cricket , including two first - class games , for various military teams between 1931 and 1954 , also playing for the Straits Settlements in 1938 and 1939 . Biography . Simpson was born in Suffolk on 27 March 1909 and educated at Merchant Taylors ' School , Crosby and at Trinity Hall , Cambridge . He then went on to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Royal Engineers as a second lieutenant on 29 August 1929 . He made his first - class cricket debut in August 1931 , playing for the Army against the MCC at Lord ' s as a right - handed batsman and right - arm medium pace bowler . He was promoted lieutenant on 29 August 1932 . He was placed on half - pay due to ill - health on 13 April 1936 , and returned to full duty , but with reduced seniority , on 15 July 1936 . Second World War . He played two matches for the Straits Settlements against the Federated Malay States in 1938 and 1939 . He was appointed as an adjutant on 28 January 1939 and served throughout the Second World War . By the Normandy Landings he was a substantive captain and temporary major . He was landed in France at 0900 on D - Day in command of 26 and 80 Assault Squadrons , Royal Engineers , in the " Nan Red " sector of Juno Beach . The task of these squadrons , which had only been formed three months previously , was to clear exits through the defences at the top of the beach so that the largely Canadian forces landed there could breakout into the country beyond . One exit " N7 " was opened as planned but one troop of AVRE armoured vehicles was landed some distance away from their intended position , and this , combined with a very high - tide , delayed the opening of exit " N6 " . Simpson managed to reorganise his available forces to open this exit , and some additional ones which were not in the original plans . He also made use of his vehicles to support infantry which was being harassed by snipers hidden in buildings , and organised the traffic on the beach to clear the developing log - jam of men and vehicles . His squadrons also filled a large shell crater in Bernières - sur - Mer which was blocking the way . Despite heavy fire of all types , he moved around on foot , or on borrowed motorcycles . As a result he was recommended for the immediate award of the Distinguished Service Order , which was made on 31 August 1944 . Post - war . After the war , Simpson remained in the Army , and became a substantive major on 1 July 1946 . He also continued with his cricket , playing for the Army against the Minor Counties in August 1947 , and played his second , and final , first - class match for the Combined Services against Glamorgan in Pontypridd in 1948 . He was promoted lieutenant colonel on 31 July 1951 , and was posted to the Ministry of Defence in September . Initially he was a secretary to the Joint War Production Committee , and then from August 1952 he was responsible for briefing the UK NATO representatives on those issues . He was also a secretary to the committee working to standardise military stores . His posting was completed in September 1953 , and as a result he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire ( OBE ) in the 1954 New Year Honours , the counter - signing officer also commented : " Quite apart from his work here , this officer deserves recognition for his services to Army cricket and rugger < nowiki > [ < / nowiki > Rugby Union < nowiki > ] < / nowiki > over a long period . " He then commanded a Royal Engineers regiment until 31 July 1954 , that year he also played cricket for the Army against Hampshire and for the Royal Engineers against the Royal Artillery at Lord ' s . He was promoted colonel on 29 January 1955 , and retired from the army on 29 April 1959 . He died in Hampshire in 1992 .