Alf
joined the 7th Battalion , Rifle Brigade in March 1940. He was posted
overseas in 1942 to join 7th Armoured Division in North Africa. Whilst at
Tel el Kebir he learnt that 156 Parachute Battalion which was in the
area was calling for drivers; he applied and was accepted. In December 1943,
4th Parachute Brigade, consisting of 156, 10 and 11 Battalions was
transferred to England where it joined 1st Airborne Division in place of 2nd
Brigade, which had been left in Italy as an Independent
brigade.
The Motor Transport
Platoon of 156 Battalion loaded heavy transport and went to Normandy soon after 'D'
Day,
landing over the Mulberry Harbour at Arromanche, so that Rear Echelon should
be at hand in Europe to support the 1st Division in any of the many Airborne
operations which were proposed and abandoned. These culminated in the battle
at Arnhem, in which 156 Battalion and the other Battalions were very severely handled.
When
Alf returned to England, he was transferred to the Motor Transport Platoon
of the 1st Parachute Battalion. This Battalion was part of the much depleted
1st Airborne Division which flew to Denmark and Norway to
accept and control the surrender of the Germans.
Alf was then
discharged prior to the departure of the 1st Battalion to Palestine.
