Posts by Nigel Leaney

Once again, we find ourselves about to start a season of PARAS10 challenges taking place in May, September and October, raising money for Support Our Paras. We kick off with Team Queripel running in the Colchester 10 mile run on Saturday 14th May. Team Queripel: John Gerring – needs no introduction (!) Paul Gerring –…

Thank you to Laura Briggs, one of our members in the USA for providing the following about Richard ‘Dick’ Ford, one of our Honorary Life Members: “With sadness, sharing the news of the recent passing on the 25th February 2022 of Retired US Air Force Lt. Colonel Richard Ford, 99 years young. During WWII, 2nd…

With thanks to Niall Cherry for bringing to our attention the following article in the De Gelderlander newspaper: https://www.gelderlander.nl/arnhem-e-o/politie-en-eod-zoeken-mortiergranaten-in-de-rijn-bij-oosterbeek-na-vondst-van-magneetvissers~ae324e66/ English translation by courtesy of google translate: The police and the Maritime Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service (EOD) are looking for ammunition from the Second World War in the water near the ferry sidewalk in Oosterbeek. Two magnet fishermen saw six to…

With thanks to Rae Byrne for bringing to our attention the passing of an Arnhem veteran who was not known to us. Douglas served with 297 Squadron RAF and completed two sorties towing gliders on 17th and 18th September. You can read his obituary from The Times here https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/flight-lieutenant-douglas-coxell-obituary-8vtvhnh6n?fbclid=IwAR2G9kXZX_nAH8mrQPoACMmb7kdnSNJuWDKsXlWtemFURYtHTmMABWciCU4

Lt Gen Sir Brian Horrocks KCB KBE DSO MC Born 07 September 1895 Raniket, India– Died 04 January 1985 Chichester, West Sussex Gen Sir Brian Horrocks died in 1985 but, for reasons unknown, his ashes remained with the undertaker in Chichester.  RHQ of the PWRR was contacted by the undertaker in 2018 regarding this situation…

Members of the Arnhem Fellowship undertook a special visit to the Airborne Assault Museum over the weekend of 19th and 20th March 2022. Hosted by the Curator of the museum, Jon Baker, and his assistant Ben Hill, we were given a guided tour of the museum itself together with a visit to the archives. This was definitely…

Today we wish a happy 103rd birthday to one of our veterans, Ray Whitwell. Ray served with the Royal Army Service Corps during the battle of Arnhem. Ray was born on 17th March 1919. In December 1939 he was conscripted into the army and served in France and Belgium with No 3 Petrol Company, Royal Army Service…