Harry
was born in Hove, Sussex on 12th March 1926. He joined up at the end of
September 1944 and did his initial training with the Buffs and East Surrey
Regiment at Canterbury. He then went to Aldershot for Corps training in the
Royal Engineers.
He volunteered
for Airborne Forces in February 1945 and was posted to 1st Parachute
Squadron, RE in 1st Airborne Division. At that time this Division, seriously
weakened after Arnhem, were re-occupying Norway.
Subsequently,
British Airborne Forces were re-organised and 1st Division disbanded. Harry
was transferred to 9th Airborne Squadron RE which became 9th Parachute
Squadron. He was then sent to Palestine where 6th Airborne were fulfilling a
difficult and thankless peacekeeping role. Harry served there till 1947 and
was closely involved in conflict with Jewish terrorists. His unit had a
regular dangerous journey to Beersheba, for water and were also employed in
clearing up, after the blowing up of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.
