It is with deep regret that we record the death of one of our members Mr Peter "Tom" Bowler [2 PARA 1958 to 1963], on the Friday 21st April 2006 in his home town of Luton in Bedfordshire.
RIP Tom
It is with deep regret that we record the death of one of our members Mr Stephen J Palethorpe [2 PARA 1965 to 1972], Steve died on Sunday 21st May 2006 in his home town of Clifton, Rotherham in South Yorkshire.
RIP Steve
It is with deep regret we record the death of one of our founder members Mr Pete Wadsworth, 2 Para 1964 to 1970. Pete died on Friday 28th July 2006 in his home town of Kimberworth Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
RIP Pete.
It is deep regret that we record the death of one of our members, Jim "Jock" Gibson 2 Para 1964-1974. Jim died Saturday 30th September 2006 in his home town of Blantyre, Scotland
RIP Jim..
Tom Flowers
It is with deep regret that we record the death of one of our members, Tom Flowers. Tom collapsed and died at his home in Brecon in November 2007.
RIP Tom.
It is with deep regret we record the death of one of our members, Arlen Richardson 2 Para 1959-1964. Arlen died on Saturday 5th April 2008.
RIP Arlen
It is with deep regret that we record the death of one of our members, Keith Shard. Keith died while on holiday in Spain, we were informed of his death on Sunday 8th June 2008.
RIP Keith
It is with deep regret that we record the death of one of our members, Henry Vye. Henry passed away in his home town of South Hayling Island on the 27th June 2008.
RIP Henry
It is with deep regret that we record the death of one of our members, Spike Rowbotham. Spike died in the early hours of Wednesday 25th March 2009 at Chichester Hospital after losing his valiant battle against cancer.
RIP Spike
Ross Dewar
It is with deep regret that we record the death of one of our members, Ross Dewar. Ross died in hospital in Prestwick on 1st April 2009 after suffering a heart attack.
RIP Ross.
It is with deep regret that we record the death of one of our members Ernie Derbyshire. Ernie died after losing his long battle against cancer in his home town of Little Haughton on 3rd October 2009.
RIP Ernie
It is with deep regret that we record the death of one of our members Brian "Ginge" Shatford. Brian died suddenly in his home town of Filey, N Yorks on 26/11/2010.
RIP BRian
Jim McGovern
It is with great sadness that we record the death of one of our members, Jim McGovern. Jim a member of the Royal Chelsea Hospital died suddenly after suffering a heart attack on 9 June 2011.
RIP Jim.
Lt Col George Christie.
It is with great sadness that we record the death of one of our members, Lt Col George Christie. Col Christie died at home in July 2011.
RIP George.
John Ryan,
It is with great sadness that we record the death of one of our members, John Ryan. John died in 2010 but unfortunately this news has only recently reached us and we have no further details.
RIP John.
Iain Maclellan
It is with great sadness that we record the death of one of our members Iaian Maclellan. Iain died at his home in Dunlop Ayreshire on Sunday 16th Jan 2011 after his battel with Cancer.
RIP Iain.
Robert (Bob) Jones
It is with great sadness that we record the death of one of our members Arnhem veteran Bob Jones. Bob passed away on October 21st 2011. Bob was regular attendee at our reunions until his health prevented him from doing so, and that was only this year.
RIP Bob
ROBERT (BOB) JONES
Bob passed away on 24 October 2011, aged 88. Bob was born and raised in Birmingham and enlisted into the Dorset Regiment in 1940 aged 16.
When a call came round for volunteers to train as Glider Pilots in 1942, Bob thought he would have a go and decided to apply. He failed not meeting the educational requirements.
He was posted to Kitchener Barracks, Chatham to be trained as a sapper, Royal Engineers ‘Trade Carpenter’.
On completion of 12 weeks course he was posted to Hardwick Hall and Ringway for a Parachute course in November 1942.
In early 1943 he was posted to North Africa to reinforce the 1st Parachute squadron, Royal Engineers. On September 9th 1943 the 1st Airborne Division landed by sea at Taranto, Italy.
Bobs unit arrived back in Liverpool on December 12th 1943 and were moved to billets in the village of Donnington, Lincolnshire. Knowing Bob it would be a public house namely The Red Cow. Following Christmas leave they went into training for the expected landing on the European mainland. By this time Bob was batman to Captain Eric McKay later Maj. Gen. McKay.
D.Day came and the 1st Airborne Division was placed on the ‘Strategic Reserve’ for which some sixteen operations were planned and cancelled with some at the very last minute.
Then on September 17th 1944 Operation Market Garden was on. The 1st Parachute Squadron, R.E began their decent on to LZ.X. at Wolfenheger at 13.40 hrs forming up with John Frost’s 2nd Battalion. Following many skirmishes on route they reached Arnhem main bridge at 20.00 hrs taking up positions on the eastern side of the bridge ramp. Following four days of bitter street warfare the remnants were overrun.
Bob was taken prisoner and first went to Limberg then onto Stalag IVB Mulberg, near Dresden, East Germany. He was working on surface mines near the town of Marseburgh. When the Russians caught up with them it did not end for Bob as the Russians took their time in handing back liberated British POW’s. They just moved them around in East Germany bartering some sort of deal with the British and USA governments and Bob did not arrive home until mid August 1945.
After the war he married Violet and had one son, David.
Bob and Violet went into the brewery trade and ran several pubs and clubs. He became involved in many ex-service associations.
Bob was laid to rest on Friday 4th November. Standards and some 50 member of the maroon machine present along with 20 or so family and friends.
RIP