My weekend with the XXI Indep. Para. Coy Veterans.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Guys, over the years many of you will have read here that I attend the annual reunion of the XXI Indep. Para. Coy. These guys were the "Pathfinders" for Arnhem and the South of France drops. They served in North Africa, Italy, France, Holland, Greece, Norway and Palestine.

This year was no exception and last weekend we attended the reunion for 3 days. My alcohol levels have now returned to normal We always have several late nights. I don't know how some of these old boys keep it up!

Here is a general view of almost all the Veterans attending. Gus Jones had gone for a lie down. He is in his 92nd year so I will let him off I will show his pic later.

Cheers, Ade.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Sadly since last year we have lost two Veterans always used to attend the reunions Don Day and John Fancy.
Don's son and widow both attended this year as usual. Don attended last years 60th in Arnhem.
I was shocked to learn of John's death. His wife passed away and he only lived a couple of months after this. John was an Arnhem vet too.

RIP guys!

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here is John.

John joined "Billy Smart's Circus" after the war. The guys used to joke about this with him "running off to join the circus".

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here we see Tony and John. I have done a thread in the Brit forum on Tony.

John, on the right here, was Company bugler and like Tony served at Arnhem. John was telling me he has an Iron Cross at home in the wardrobe. He is going to bring it for me to see. I was telling him how much these are worth, so he is hoping it turns out to be an RK

[Adrian Stevenson]

We had a service of Rememberance on Sunday which was also "VE Day". This was held in Newark Parish Church. Note the old colours from various local Nottinghamshire Regt's in background. The unit was based in Newark both before and after Arnhem. This is my good friend Don Turner and I after the service.

The unit stole the Union Flag from the Town Hall to take with them to Norway as they did not have one

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here we have a couple of "then and now" photos. I am quite pleased with how these have turned out as it is my first attempt at this type of thing.

Here we see Walter Freeguard. Walter is 90 years young and has a great memory and could remember faces and names of comrades better than some of the younger Vets. He served in the South of France with the Indep. Parachute Platoon. He is pictured in the De Trez book on the subject demonstrating the "Eureka" beacon. Walter become a school teacher after the war and was awarded the OBE. Walter says he was regarded as an Old Man even during the war

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here we see Gus Jones who was missing from the main photo. Gus was a Sgt and again served with the Indep Para Platoon. Gus was in a TA Cavalry unit pre war. He later met up with some of his old comrades while serving in Italy. He was a "failed" Glider Pilot like many in the unit. Despite being a very early member of the platoon Gus never got to make an Operational jump. He missed the South of France drop due to a broken foot. He was however the first man to jump with a kit bag. Major Lander the unit's original CO developed this and jumped with it himself and then ordered Gus to do the same. He said he was really frightened to do this! Major Lander was really loved by the unit but was regarded as being a little crazy. He originally jumped with suit cases!

Gus became a Postman after the war. He is 92 this year and says apart from epilepsy, deafness, a pain in the chest and bad knees, he is very well

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here is my final photo. This one was a gift that the Veterans gave me at the weekend. We are farily certain it was taken in Italy. Don Turner is second from the left with his now late best friend, Don Hobbs. The two Don's were the first Veterans I ever met from the unit and it was they who very kindly invited me to attend the reunions.

The photo is very interesting as two of the men wear the straight "airborne" tab which is very rare to see this unit using. It was against regulations and was only really seen within the ranks of 6th A/B Div.


Cheers, Ade.

[DJT]

Hi Ade,

Great stuff to see, thanks for posting

[Allan P.]

Brillient Ade, great tribute.

Allan

[Airborne Nut]

A great Read, thanks Ade, very thoughtful.


-Shane

[Bill Grist]

Super

Very nice and very interesting..THX. BILL

[Tom M]

Ade, thank you for sharing these brave men there accounts. The 'then and now' photos are great

Cheers.

[junior]

Looks like a great experience! Nice photos too!
Thanks for sharing Ade!
Junior

[oldflagswanted]

...about old colours

...in Newark Parish Church. Note the old colours from various local Nottinghamshire Regt's in background...

Adrian:
Do you have any close-up photos of those "old colours" that you could post or send me via email? <br><center><img src=http://home.att.net/~b.k.weed/nzflagwave.gif></center><center>OldFlagsWanted</center>