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Parachute Regiment Association Croydon Branch - Home Page
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A request from Eddie Holden
If there are there any old godgers out there as old as me I would like to hear from them. I am ex-Para Reg, a member of the Cambridge Branch, ex-Force 136, S.E.A.C Para, ex- 1-2 Batt Para, SINGAPORE, and ex-6 Batt ATT R.W.F. Para Palestine. Yes I am three score and ten and ten and a bit more> My grandchildren got into this computer lark, and I am enjoying it at 80 plus. Have a look at to see my life story, and much more.
Click here to see Mike Emery's 10 Para Photo Gallery
Click here to see the latest pictures sent in by Ginger
A request from Roger Payne.
My name is Roger Payne and I served in 1 Para, the Depot at Maida Barracks and Browning Barracks in the 1960's, my service number was 23851949. I left the brigade and came to live in Australia after enlisting in Australian Army in London, and served for 22 years. Obviously I am now retired and bored stiff. Some years ago I began collecting short humorous stories from the lads in the brigade, all corps and regiments, around 250 stories. I put them together and have been trying to see if a publisher would accept them warts and all.
Well a miracle happened and a small American e-book publisher has accepted it, thinks the stories are extremely funny. Hopefully it will come out sometime early next year. It is called 'Floating Under A Red Beret. I have promised to donate 10% of what I make to an airborne charity - I will make 40% of each book sold, but I get no advances, simply money for each book every six months. 40% sounds a lot I know but e-books only cost about a third of a normal one.
I have now decided to push my ABI and try a second book, so I am asking everyone who is foolish enough to listen if they would be willing to send me a short humorous story or two on anything funny that happened to them in the brigade. When I did the last one I told everyone that I would give them a pseudonym, the 'nym you use when you don't have a nym'. I do a little writers license on each tale to emphasize the humour, then send it back to whoever sent it to me so they can recommend any changes. Only then will it go into the book. Click here to contact me: Roger Payne's email address
Having now annoyed you I will let you digest what I have said and hopefully some of the lads will allow me to use their stories. I will email anyone who's interested the intro to the first book plus one story to show you the book format.
Thank you for any help you may give me
Roger Payne
Some new Airborne Books from Niall Cherry:
I have a couple of bits of information that I hope may be of interest to the Croydon branch....especially if you have any airborne sappers and medics!
Firstly, a book called 'A Sapper at Arnhem' by (in 19444) Captain Harry Faulkner-Brown. He was a Troop Commander in the 4th Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers, part of the 4th Parachute Brigade.
ISBN 10 9080471895
ISBN 13 9789080471894
Printed in Holland by R Sigmond Publishing and I act as the UK sales agent- our eighth book on Arnhem/Airborne Forces and for those that are aware of our organisation up to the usual high quality. Foreword by General Sir Mike Jackson. 128 pages hardback around 80 photographs and maps. Price £12 with an extra cost of £2 for postage if ordering from me.
Please contact me at Niall's email for ordering details.
Secondly it is the 60th Anniversary of the Airborne Forces Museum at Aldershot and a special anniversary lecture has been arranged for Thursday 12th October. The talk to be given by the UK representative of the Society of Friends of the Airborne Museum Oosterbeek Holland and author of the book 'Red Berets and Red Crosses-the medical services in the 1st Airborne Division in WW2'. His subjects in a two part talk are the defence of the Van Limburg Stirum School at the road bridge at Arnhem by the 1st Parachute Squadron RE and the airborne medical services in WW2. The speaker is my good self!
My book was one of the eight previously published by R Sigmond and another was the story of the 9th Airborne Field Company RE which unfortunately is now out of print. Our others have been:
Off at Last (the history of the 7th KOSB in WW2)
For No Apparent Reason (an investigation into a war crime at Arnhem)
B Company Arrived (2nd Parachute Battalion at Arnhem)
These all out of print
By Land Sea and Air (2nd South Staffs in WW2)
Nine Days at Arnhem (the CANLOAN officers with the 7th KOSB in September 1944)
A Sapper at Arnhem
Please contact me if you have any questions.
N Cherry
Al Ashworth has a web site dedicated to past and present members of 2 PARA. Check it out at Parachute 2 Club
Alan Anderson has a PRA web site too. Check it out at Central Scotland PRA
Irene Payne is compiling Normandy veterans memories and experiences. Please email her if you can help. Irene
Here are a couple of lovely poems sent to us by Elsa Beattie
We remember in silence
We remember with praise
All those who died
For our future days.
They fought long and hard
That we may have peace
While hoping and praying
That all wars would cease.
So on their behalf
Let’s continue to pray
And fight the good fight
Towards peace every day.
With God on our side
That battle we’ll win
In remembrance of them
And to glorify Him.
As today we wear poppies
To remember our dead
Let peace be the victor
In all days ahead.
© Elsa J Beattie
Heroes of Arnhem, ‘Gallant Few’
You showed what British grit can do;
Through each succeeding day and night,
You battled on without respite.
Outnumbered by a desperate foe,
You dealt them many a mortal blow
The Second Army, in your rear,
Tried hard, but couldn’t reach your sphere.
At last, Montgomery’s order came,
But your withdrawal meant no shame.
Yours was an epic, gallant deed,
Victory your sacrifice will speed.
Undaunted still, you came away,
You mean to fight another day.
You’ll have revenge for those who fell,
In Arnhem’s blazing patch of Hell.
Throughout the world you’ve earned fame,
Each country hails your gallant name.
We of the Second Army, too,
Proudly salute – ‘THE GALLANT FEW’
L/Cpl. Alexander Barr, 193 Field Ambulance, R.A.S.C.
Click here to contact the branch secretary by email: paraginger@blueyonder.co.uk
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