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They'll Never Hold Me: The Life and Crimes of Kevin John Simmonds, Australia's Most Daring Fugitive
In 1959, Australians thrilled to every move made by a new criminal underdog, a Ned Kelly for the rock 'n' roll era.
Kevin John Simmonds was a charismatic crook whose brazen crime spree had scored him a lengthy prison sentence. But as he was led from court, he boasted, 'They'll never hold me.'
Two months later, Simmo made good on his promise, staging a daring escape from Long Bay Gaol. When his bid for freedom took a deadly turn, legendary Detective Ray 'the Gunner' Kelly took charge of the search, putting the fugitive in the crosshairs of the biggest armed manhunt in Australian history.
They'll Never Hold Me is the true story of an antihero with a code of honour who captured the public's hearts and minds even as he enraged the cops and the establishment. Brilliantly researched and written by Michael Adams, of the Forgotten Australia podcast, this never-before-told tale takes us beyond the public adventures that made Simmo into Public Enemy No. 1 to reveal the haunting tragedies he was trying to outrun – and the terrible fate that even he might not escape.
Kevin John Simmonds was a charismatic crook whose brazen crime spree had scored him a lengthy prison sentence. But as he was led from court, he boasted, 'They'll never hold me.'
Two months later, Simmo made good on his promise, staging a daring escape from Long Bay Gaol. When his bid for freedom took a deadly turn, legendary Detective Ray 'the Gunner' Kelly took charge of the search, putting the fugitive in the crosshairs of the biggest armed manhunt in Australian history.
They'll Never Hold Me is the true story of an antihero with a code of honour who captured the public's hearts and minds even as he enraged the cops and the establishment. Brilliantly researched and written by Michael Adams, of the Forgotten Australia podcast, this never-before-told tale takes us beyond the public adventures that made Simmo into Public Enemy No. 1 to reveal the haunting tragedies he was trying to outrun – and the terrible fate that even he might not escape.
- GenresTrue Crime
384 pages, Paperback
Published October 29, 2024
3 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Michael Adams
195 books23 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 12, 2025
3 Stars = Don't regret reading it.
An Australian criminal who is extremely talented at eluding arrest, or if caught, effecting an escape. He was charismatic, and lived by a definite code of honour, even when it put his own life in jeopardy. To the common man he was an antihero they had grown fond of, similar to Australian Ned Kelly, or the Americans Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.
An Australian criminal who is extremely talented at eluding arrest, or if caught, effecting an escape. He was charismatic, and lived by a definite code of honour, even when it put his own life in jeopardy. To the common man he was an antihero they had grown fond of, similar to Australian Ned Kelly, or the Americans Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.
April 17, 2025
Who was Kevin John Simonds?
Kevin John Simmonds (1935-1966), born on 22 August 1935 in Sydney, was the son of John Simmonds, labourer, and his 16-year-old wife Sheila. At the age of 14, Kevin Simmonds was sent to Boys' Town, Engadine, for stealing. Aged 18 he was sentenced to two years at Mount Penang Training School, Gosford, for stealing, and breaking and entering. In May 1957 Kevin Simmonds was sentenced in Sydney to three years imprisonment. He was released in February 1959, but in August 1959, with three charges of armed robbery, seventeen of breaking and entering, and thirty-five of car stealing, he was sentenced to fifteen years in Long Bay gaol.
On 9 October 1959 Simmonds and a fellow inmate, Leslie Alan Newcombe, escaped from the inner section of Long Bay gaol. The next day they killed a warder at Emu Plains Prison Farm and took his gun. Newcombe was recaptured two weeks later but the chase for Simmonds continued. He was recaptured in November 1959, and both Newcombe and Simmonds were sentenced to penal servitude for life. Simmonds was found hanged in his cell in Goulburn on the morning of 4 November 1966.
Apparently, back in 1959,’Simmo’ as he was nicknamed, was viewed by many Australians as a charismatic criminal underdog. The blurb for the book states:
‘They'll Never Hold Me is the true story of an antihero with a code of honour who captured the public's hearts and minds even as he enraged the cops and the establishment. Brilliantly researched and written by Michael Adams, of the Forgotten Australia podcast, this never-before-told tale takes us beyond the public adventures that made Simmo into Public Enemy No. 1 to reveal the haunting tragedies he was trying to outrun – and the terrible fate that even he might not escape.’
Yes, there is plenty of sensationalism in the story of Kevin Simmonds. And, yes, there is tragedy as well. But my sympathy is for the family of the murdered warder.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Kevin John Simmonds (1935-1966), born on 22 August 1935 in Sydney, was the son of John Simmonds, labourer, and his 16-year-old wife Sheila. At the age of 14, Kevin Simmonds was sent to Boys' Town, Engadine, for stealing. Aged 18 he was sentenced to two years at Mount Penang Training School, Gosford, for stealing, and breaking and entering. In May 1957 Kevin Simmonds was sentenced in Sydney to three years imprisonment. He was released in February 1959, but in August 1959, with three charges of armed robbery, seventeen of breaking and entering, and thirty-five of car stealing, he was sentenced to fifteen years in Long Bay gaol.
On 9 October 1959 Simmonds and a fellow inmate, Leslie Alan Newcombe, escaped from the inner section of Long Bay gaol. The next day they killed a warder at Emu Plains Prison Farm and took his gun. Newcombe was recaptured two weeks later but the chase for Simmonds continued. He was recaptured in November 1959, and both Newcombe and Simmonds were sentenced to penal servitude for life. Simmonds was found hanged in his cell in Goulburn on the morning of 4 November 1966.
Apparently, back in 1959,’Simmo’ as he was nicknamed, was viewed by many Australians as a charismatic criminal underdog. The blurb for the book states:
‘They'll Never Hold Me is the true story of an antihero with a code of honour who captured the public's hearts and minds even as he enraged the cops and the establishment. Brilliantly researched and written by Michael Adams, of the Forgotten Australia podcast, this never-before-told tale takes us beyond the public adventures that made Simmo into Public Enemy No. 1 to reveal the haunting tragedies he was trying to outrun – and the terrible fate that even he might not escape.’
Yes, there is plenty of sensationalism in the story of Kevin Simmonds. And, yes, there is tragedy as well. But my sympathy is for the family of the murdered warder.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
April 1, 2025
I really enjoyed this one. Considering he had the biggest man hunt after him in Australia's history, his story should be told and be more well known.
August 2, 2025
To slow for me, gave up on it!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews