Joe
was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland on
2nd September 1923. He joined the Army in 1939 as a Regular and first served
in the RASC, then RAOC until 1943.
At this stage he
volunteered for the Parachute Regiment and qualified at Ringway, before
being sent out to North Africa with reinforcements for the 1st Para
Brigade, after their operations in Tunisia and Sicily. He went to Italy with
1st Battalion, then was transferred to the 4th battalion, remaining in Italy
with the Independent Brigade and jumped with them into Southern France and
Greece in 1944.
Post-war he saw
service in Palestine, BAOR and Cyprus. During his service with the Regiment
he rose from Private to CSM.
In 1950 he then
reverted to the RAOC and saw service in Egypt and Malaya. In 1955 he was
Commissioned as Lt. QM and rose to the rank of Lt. Col. Staff Quartermaster,
before his discharge in 1978. During this period he was awarded the MBE.
