Edward A 'Ted' Parker enlisted into the Territorial Army in May 1933 at Glasgow. He was posted with The Royal Signals. His records list him as an apprentice 'Billposter' before he enlisted. Records suggest he saw service in France in 1940 before volunteering for the airborne forces. 

Ted qualified as a military parachutist on Course 142 which ran at RAF Ringway from 13 to 25 November 1944. The course instructors' notes state Ted was:

"very good performance, very good leader, confident and reliable."

Ted's family believe he was initially posted to 1st Airborne Divisional Signals before transferring to the 6th Airborne Divisional Signals, as part of 5th Parachute Brigade, HQ Signals Section, during operations in Normandy (probably with an airlanding unit). Then after completing parachute jump training in November 1944, he served in operations in the Ardennes and Op Varsity. He was demobilised in 1945.

Please see attached official documents for more detail.