My Dad enlisted In the Anti Aircraft Battery Territorial Army in 1938 he was 17 years old he lied about his age. As a Gunner he was now trained on anti-aircraft guns. On the 1st September 1939 with the threat of War looming all Territorial Army units were mobilised and the terms of a soldiers engagement were changed to for the duration. The Battery was now termed Heavy and was trained and equipped 3.7-inch anti-aircraft guns.
He was attached to the 338th Search Light Battery. Having applied to join Airborne Forces he was posted to the Depot & School Airborne Forces which he successfully completed. He was sent on Parachute course 101 at RAF Ringway. Was said to be a good stick man. He was posted to the 1st Parachute Battalion on the 9th March 1944. He was assigned to the Mortar Platoon.
On the 17th September 1944 he took off aboard a C47 Dakota aircraft of the 61st Troop Carrier Group. Mortar Platoon of the 1st Parachute Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant G. E. Guyon, dropped into Arnhem the Netherlands with the rest of the 1st Airborne Division, as part of Operation Market Garden. His destination was D.Z. X near Renkum in Holland. He fought throughout the ensuing battle to secure a crossing over the Lower Rhine at Arnhem. He was flown back to England on the 30th September. The 1st Parachute Battalion suffered extremely heavy casualties.
On the 7th May 1945 he emplaned for Demark as part of Operation Doomsday, the Liberation Forces dealing with the handing over of surrendering German Forces. He was released to the Territorial Reserves.
