John
was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 2nd
January 1944. He joined the Royal Artillery as a Regular soldier in May 1963
at age twenty-one.
After only three
months he volunteered to become Airborne and joined 7th Royal Horse
Artillery, with whom he served until August 1966 when he was discharged on
account of injuries suffered in a parachute mishap.
During his service he
saw action with United Nations Forces in Cyprus and also in Aden,
where his 'G' Battery were supporting 3rd Parachute Battalion.
He recalls an
incident when a soldier making a night drop, fell onto the roof of a hangar.
Thinking he was on the ground, he gathered up his parachute and moved off,
only to fall over the edge of the hangar and break both of his legs !
