Ron
was born in Worsbrough Dale, South Yorkshire on 22nd June 1925. After the
early death of his father, Ron began work in the mines to help support his
mother and the family
At the age of 17 he
joined the Army and first chose the RASC. After initial training, he
volunteered to become Airborne and it is believed that his unit was 716
Light Composite Company, part of 6th Airborne Division, whose mission it was
to drop and collect supplies delivered by air to Forces on the ground.
In this role he
parachuted into Normandy, then served in the Ardennes and was also in the
Rhine crossing.
Ron's wry comments on
Normandy were, "Lost my gear in the River Orne !", and on the
Ardennes, "Missed my Christmas pudding !".
After VE Day he was
sent, as a member of 5th Parachute Brigade to the Far East in preparation
for action against the Japanese, and, when that War ended, was sent to
Indonesia to re-occupy that country. Finally Ron served a spell with the
whole 6th Airborne in Palestine.
Sadly, Ron died on
29th April 1998.
R.I.P.
