Joe
was born in Annan, Dumfrieshire, Scotland on 12th October 1917. He was one of
a large family, of whom no less than eight brothers served in the Second
World War.
Joe's service was
entirely with the Border Regiment, which he first joined at the age of
sixteen. He had an active period in Ireland and then in Palestine before the
War and progressed through the ranks from private soldier to Signals
Sergeant.
In 1939 the Battalion
had returned to UK and was sent to France as part of the British
Expeditionary Force. By Christmas 1939 Joe was stationed in the Metz area on
the Maginot Line.
When the Germans
attacked in May 1939, the Battalion was rushed to Belgium, but was swept
away in the general withdrawal. After many adventures Joe was finally
able to get away via Dunkirk. Back in England he was selected for a
Commission and was then able to rejoin his Battalion as Signals Officer.
After a spell of
defence duties in those critical days, the Battalion was converted to
glider-borne as part of the then forming 1st Airborne Division.
In
1943 they were sent to North Africa from where the first large-scale
glider assault was mounted to seize the bridge at Syracuse, Sicily. This was
a very shaky operation; after a long and difficult night flight, landings
were very dispersed and many gliders came down in the sea short of the
coast.
Joe was amongst those
who had to swim ashore under fire, but reached it safely and took the
surrender of many Italian soldiers while making his way to the objective.
The Division then
moved to Italy and drove the enemy North as far as Foggia, after which one
Parachute Brigade remained, whilst the balance returned to England.
After being brought
up to strength by the addition of a new glider Battalion, the 7th King's Own
Scottish Borderers and three new Parachute Battalions, the Division stood by
for action on the Continent. They were made ready many times, but take-off
was repeatedly cancelled at the last moment. Finally the whole Division went
to Arnhem on 17th September 1944. The task of the Border Regiment was to
hold ground for subsequent landings and to form a defensive line to the
West. In this situation one Company became cut-off but were able to escape, largely
through Joe's skill and initiative. For this action he was awarded a
Military Cross.
When all resistance
ceased he was among those able to be ferried across the river to safety.
At the end of the
War, the very depleted 1st Airborne Division was sent to Norway to take
the German surrender and Joe was still with them.
He was demobilised
after thirteen very active years in 1946.
