Reg
was born in the East End of London in
1922. Following family tradition he determined to be a soldier, and, at the
age of 16 he enlisted as a drummer boy in the Royal Sussex Regiment.
When the War broke
out, he was not eligible for active service because of his youth, but as
soon as he could he volunteered to become a parachutist. He joined the 9th
Parachute Battalion, part of the 3rd Parachute Brigade of 6th Airborne
Division.
His first operation
was the invasion of Normandy where he was dropped in the darkness, well off
the target and found himself alone. After joining up with others he
eventually reached his Battalion which was entrenched opposite the Chateau
St. Come, the scene of prolonged and intense fighting, where the Battalion
could only just hold out until the battle of Breville took off the enemy's
pressure.
Reg saw further action during the advance to the River Seine in August.
He then took part in
operations in the Ardennes, Christmas 1944, at short notice and under
sub-arctic conditions.
In March 1945 came
the Rhine crossing, followed by the victorious advance through Germany and
here Reg, who had borne a charmed life so far, was seriously wounded and
evacuated.
After the War, Reg
served as an instructor at Colchester and Wrotham until his discharge and
completion of nine years service.
