John
was born in Oxford, England on 12th April 1924. He joined the Army on June
1943 as a conscript in the days when the War seemed to have been going on
forever, with little sign of success.
After initial
training, he became an Infantry Signaller and was posted to the 12th
Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment, which had recently been selected as the
third Battalion of 6 Airlanding Brigade, 6 Airborne Division.
On 'D' Day, although
250 gliders were used, there was still a shortage, so 12th Devons had to
come in by sea, except for 'A' Company, in which John was one of the three
Signallers.
Flying in by
daylight, he had a fantastic view of the sea-borne invasion, from
battleships bombarding the land, to landing craft and the beach itself.
After a short time the gliders landed in an area which was not under fire,
but obstructed by thousands of landing posts. Landing was a vivid
experience and most gliders were severely damaged, but casualties were
light.
The original reconnaissance
task was abandoned because the enemy was already in close
contact, so the Company supported 13 Para and the 'Ox and Bucks', until the
rest of the Devons Battalion had arrived on 'D + 2'.
John remained with A
Company, (which was reduced from 130 men to 40), till the Division returned to
England in September. Having been recommended for a Commission, he then left
to begin Officer training and so missed the Ardennes and the Rhine crossing,
with no regrets !
Subsequent
service was with 7th Ghurkha Rifles in India and Singapore, and, after de-mobilisation
in 1948 with 4 'Ox and Bucks' (T.A.) and from 1957 with the Melbourne
University Regiment (CMF).
