Pat
was born at Mountmellick, Ireland on September 11th 1924.
He joined the Army in
January 1942 and after initial training was posted to the Northamptonshire
Regiment. He then volunteered to become a parachutist and joined the 8th
Battalion in 6 Airborne Division in July 1943. He served with this Battalion
in Normandy, the Ardennes, the Rhine crossing and the advance through
Germany.
Pat
manned a PIAT , always a risky job, because of it's short range, compelling
a close approach to the target, and, was wounded in the hand and leg. He was
awarded the King's Badge.
In Normandy, as soon
as his Battalion had assembled on the ground, he was one of a very small
party detailed to set up an ambush on the road from Troarn to Ranville. This
half dozen men, engaged and drove off an enemy force in six half-tracks,
hurrying up towards the bridges, destroying all the vehicles. This small
action was extremely important, because it blocked an immediate
counter-attack which could well have split the Airborne position and put the
whole operation in jeopardy.
Having survived a
prolonged period of very active service, Pat was most unfortunate to be
injured in a practice jump over Salisbury Plain in August 1945, when he
sustained a serious injury to his back.
Sadly, Pat died in
4th April 2004, aged seventy-nine.
R.I.P.
