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regiment having been redesignated 1 Worc R. In 1945 he was awarded the Military Medal, his citation reads “throughout Op Veritable from 11th February 45 onwards, Sgt Norton set an example of devotion to duty and initiative that was quite outstanding. On 16th February at Berkhofel, after a successful attack by the Battalion, line had to be laid to Companies whose exact positions were still unknown. Under continuous and heavy shell and mortar fire of the whole area, this NCO led a line party which worked all night and finally succeeded in establishing communication forward. By the time the battle reached Imigshof on the 18th February, the line section was becoming very tired, so he frequently went out, always under heavy fire, to re-establish contact with the companies. This was done entirely on his own initiative and reported to the Signals Officer only after the task had been completed. The success of this series of operations was done in no small part to the maintenance of communications. Sgt Norton by his personal effort, initiative and courage during this very strenuous and trying period so helped to inspire his platoon that operations never suffered for lack of communications”. He was also Mentioned in Despatches and awarded a C-in-C’s Certificate.
Following demobilisation Jim took up
a career in personnel management with General Foods working in the Birmingham/ Banbury area and also at Campbell Soups in Kings Lynn, Norfolk until retirement in 1985.
Capt Alun Owen MC died 23rd March 2012, aged 93. He served in WW2.
George Parry died on Monday 19th December 2011 at home, aged 95. George was born on 8th December 1916 and was brought up in Cannock. He enlisted into The South Staffordshire Regiment on 15th January 1940. After
completing basic training he served for 18 months with 2nd/6th Battalion. This was a first rate Territorial Battalion, which later saw heavy fighting in Normandy as part of 59 Division. The Battalion spent 1941 and 1942 in Hull (home defence), followed by periods on Cannock and Co Durham, at the start of more intensive training for the second front. George transferred to the 2nd Battalion, (the old 80th Foot), which had converted to a gliderborne battalion, as part of 1st Airborne Division. He took part on Op Husky and was in one of the gliders which landed into the sea, George made it to the land, but was captured briefly by the Italian Army, but was recaptured soon afterwards.
He was a Signaller in B Company when the Battalion was air landed into Arnhem. His Company Commander was the legendary Major Robert Cain, who was
awarded the Victoria Cross and was in the thick of the fighting throughout the battle. George was eventually captured by the
SS with Lt. Jack Reynolds, who gave a V sign as he passed a German cameraman on his way to captivity. This famous act of defiance is often shown on documentaries and is also shown on page 122 of the publication, ‘By Land Sea Air’, the much sought after book which described the 2nd South Staffords in WW2. George related afterwards, that he thought they would
be shot. He spent several months in a PoW Camp in Germany and was finally discharged on 2nd April 1946.
After the War George settled in Chadsmoor with his wife Joyce, where
they raised five children. In recent years George attended many Regimental events including the KAPE tour undertaken by 3rd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Staffords) in February and April 2009. His photograph appeared on page 48 of the Stafford Knot No 1 of 2009 and it was touching to see
the reaction of the serving soldiers, when they were talking to an Arnhem veteran.
He in turn had a deep respect for what our soldiers have done in Iraq and Afghanistan. In September 2011 he featured on Central News as he opened the Staffordshire Regiment Museum’s Wartime Whittington Event. He and his wife Joyce donated the money for a bench which was placed in the Regimental Plot in The National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas. We held a special dedication ceremony on 2nd November, which was a lovely occasion. Beforehand he asked one of the staff in Regimental Headquarters to check the wording on his plaque. There was one alteration, after his name, we insisted that the words ‘Arnhem Veteran’ should be added for good measure and George agreed to the change.
His funeral took place at St. Luke’s Church, Cannock on 3rd January 2012. Not surprisingly, this turned out to be a major Regimental occasion. Brigadier Williams attended, Lt. Fitzpatrick represented the Commanding Officer of 3 MERCIAN and there was a substantial turn out from the Staffordshire Regimental Association,
the Royal British Legion and other local
ex service organisations. The North Staffordshire Airborne Forces Association also sent a strong contingent to attend this most moving of occasions.
Keith Pearce died in June 2012. He served in 1 Staffords from 1961 – 4 in Colchester and Kenya. After his service he became a miner and joined Stoke-on-Trent Branch
of The Staffordshire Regiment Association. His funeral took place in Carmountisde Crematorium.
24177576 LCpl Anthony ‘Tony’ Pitt of Whitbourne, Worcestershire died on 17th July 2012, aged 63. He served with the 1st Battalion, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters between 1969–1978.
Geoffrey Porter died on the 16th December 2012, aged 64. Jake was born on the 13th April 1947 in Wednesfield. He joined the Army in 1964 and served with
1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment
in Kenya, Dover, Berlin, The Persian Gulf, Colchester and Osnabruck. He finally left
in 1978 and is believed to have served in the Battalion’s first three Northern Ireland Tours. His early career included two short spells where he went AWOL (these were declared in his eulogy), but the latter part
of his service was with the Quartermaster’s Department. He was an accomplished boxer, with a distinct style which earned him the nick name of ‘the preying mantis’. He was also a much liked individual within his Regiment and his large family.
His funeral took place on Tuesday 7th February at Streetly Crematorium. The chapel was packed, with over 130 people present, including 6 Branch Standards and Regimental Mascot LCpl Watchman V.
4987723 Sgt Samuel James Price of Nottingham died on 30th December 2011, aged 80. At the age of 16 he enlisted into The Sherwood Foresters Band as a Band Boy. He served with the 2nd Battalion until being
medically discharged as a Sgt whilst in Germany. Samuel then worked for the Lord Mayor of Nottingham for 10 years and then as the custodian of Newstead Abbey, a position he held for 20 years. He was then employed in the Security Section at Nottingham Castle, retiring in 1993. He was also the Chairman of the Meadows Branch (Nottingham) of the Royal British Legion.
Sergeant Ivor Prossit. We have few details of Ivor Prossit, but he served in 1st Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment and was with them in the Korean War. After his military service he lived in Wales, but asked to be buried in Burton-upon-Trent and it was the Burton Branch who found about his funeral, spread the news around and took on the representation role. His funeral took place on 21st February 2012 at Burton Cemetery, Stapenhill.
William Pugh. We have very few details of William Pugh, but in WW2 he served in one of the two Battalions of The 6th Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment, both of which were involved in very heavy fighting in
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