John Fleck, also known as “Johnny”, was born in Irvine, Ayrshire on 2 April 1922 to John and Elizabeth Fleck.  He had two elder sisters, an elder brother and a younger brother and was educated at Bank Street school and Irvine Royal Academy.

After leaving school at the age of 14, he worked at various labouring jobs and as an apprentice bricklayer until called up to the army on 15 January 1942. After initial training and wanting a bit more excitement than just a normal infantryman John, along with one of his fellow army friends, transferred to The Parachute Regiment from The Royal Scots Fusiliers.

John was successfully parachute jump trained at RAF Ringway on course 59.  This course ran between 5 and 16 April 1943. His Jump Instructor noted this about him:  "Inclined to show nervousness. Slow".

John went on to serve with distinction with The 5th (Scottish) Parachute Battalion in operations in Italy, South of France, Greece and post war in Palestine. John joined the Reserves 6 September 1946. His Military Medal award was listed on 8 May 1945 in The London Gazette. 

After leaving the army in 1946, he trained as a bricklayer and was employed by a local builder in Irvine and subsequently became a leading foreman in charge of various building works including houses, schools, factories and a church.

In 1952, Johnny married his wife Catherine Stevenson, also known as “Kate”, and subsequently had a son, also named John.

Following his son’s emigration to Cape Town in South Africa in 1980, Johnny and his wife Kate also emigrated to South Africa in 1983 to join his son and they lived there until the untimely death of Kate in 1986. Johnny returned to the UK in 1988, followed by his son in 1989 and, having taken up playing golf later in life, enjoyed playing until his eyesight deteriorated to the point that he could no longer play.

Johnny was very modest in recounting his time during the war and never revealed why he was awarded the Military Medal for action in Greece.

Having had an initial heart attack in 2000, Johnny passed away following a second heart attack on 8 October 2008 and is fondly remembered and sorely missed by his son as an inspiration in living life and not giving up when problems arise.

Written by John Fleck (son) with addition material sourced from the Airborne Assault Archives