John
was born in London on 14th January 1926.
He joined the
Navy in 1943 at 17 years of age and was trained as a signaller. He
was posted to a Motor Gunboat and took part in exciting night
patrols across the English Channel. In 1944 the vessel was intended
to support the Normandy landings, but was sunk in harbour by German
bombing and John had to be rescued from the sea after a long
immersion.
After
recuperation, he served afloat from Gibraltar to Rangoon before
discharge. In 1949 he volunteered to join 14th Parachute Battalion
in the Territorial Army.
He died in
March 2003, aged seventy-seven.
R.I.P.
