Airborne Assault MuseumArticle
Northern Ireland (Operation Banner)
A brief honeymoon as peace keepers between two warring communities locked in civil unrest descended into a virtual civil war ...
Corporal David Needham served in Airborne Forces with The 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment (1 PARA) in the 1960s and 1970s.David initially joined the Junior Parachute Company in 1964, and transferred to 1 PARA on completion of his parachute training in 1966, continuing to serve with the Battalion until 1975.
David was a member of C Company from 1966, moving to the Signals Platoon in 1969, with whom he served until 1974, before finally joining the Reconnaissance (Recce) Platoon in 1974.
He left 1 PARA in 1975 and served a final year with Depot PARA before leaving the Army in 1976.
During twelve years service with the Parachute Regiment, he took part in several overseas operations including Aden and Northern Ireland.
Profile under construction
Service History
- 1964 Junior Parachute Company (Boy Soldier)
- 1966 Depot The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces
- 1966 No 1 Parachute Training School RAF Abingdon
- 1966 The 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment (1 PARA) (Corporal)
- 1975 Depot The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces (Corporal)
Decorations
General Service Medal
1967
General Service Medal
1969
