Alf
was born in Liverpool on 11th July 1927.
From July 1942 (aged
15) he worked on deep-sea trawlers. During this period he was trained to man
the Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun and the Lewis gun. After two years he
transferred to the War Department coaster sailing out of Liverpool. His
vessel was attacked by enemy aircraft and he witnessed a sister ship being
blown up by an enemy mine when in close company.
After this he joined
the Army and was posted to 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment in August
1945. The War being over by that time, the Airborne Divisions were being re-organised
and used for peace-keeping duties in many trouble spots. Alf went with them
to Palestine.
He
came home on leave in 1948 and since the Battalion was shortly to
leave Palestine, he was held in Aldershot, in the meantime. There, he was
one of a group of four men who had the responsibility of setting up the
Airborne Forces Museum.
