Pte Thomas ‘Tam’ Mechan.15th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (TA)and 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. 

Thomas Mechan enlisted into the 15th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (TA) in 1975 and served with the Signals Platoon, from 10 June 1975 to the 19 March 1979. In 1979 he volunteered for service with the Regular Army and passed P Company with 456 Platoon on 2 November 1979.

Private Mechan was posted to 2 PARA and served in Northern Ireland on Operation Banner.

He served with Company HQ, D Company, 2 PARA on Operation Corporate. 25 year old Pte Mechan was killed by a stray bullet in daylight when D Company was still in reserve behind the leading companies of 2 PARA.

Pte Mechan is buried at Aldershot Military Cemetery.

The Drill Hall, for D-Company (Fire Support), 15th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (TA) at Troon was named after him. The Drill Hall had been ‘opened’ by Colonel Chris Keeble in 1986.

Profile image taken of Pte Tam Mechan whilst serving with 15 PARA. 1975-79

See account of Goose Green co-edited by Colonel David Benest