Jim was born in
Lahore, now a major city of Pakistan, in September 1924, where his father
was then serving in the Royal Artillery.
He went to Military
schools in India and England before joining the Army on boy service in 1939
in 1939 in the Royal Engineers. Later he qualified as a parachutist and then
served, with Parachute Engineer Squadrons in Sicily, where he was wounded
near the Primasole Bridge, and then in Italy. He took part in the drop at
Megara in Greece, when forces from Italy were rushed to keep the peace
during the serious disturbances which followed the German evacuation.
After the war
he was posted to the Engineering Works Services in Kenya. he left the Army
in 1948.
