Frank Parry MM enlisted 10th Battalion Welch Fusiliers on 17 January 1940. He then transferred to Army Air Corps 1 August 1942, 6th Royal Welch Parachute Battalion. Posted to North Africa 14 April 1943 until14 August 1944. BNAF South France 15 August 1944 until  28 August 1944. NACMF on 29 August 1944 until 25 June 1945. Ken, the son of Frank believes, he was wounded in Athens 8 December 1944. He took out a machine gun post by a church. The bullet went straight through his leg but didn't stop him running. That is when he was awarded the MM.

His son Ken Parry also recalls :  “He jumped from 500ft behind enemy lines to do sabotage and the like. One mission he jumped with two other men they killed 53 men. My uncle said he worked with the SAS. Another tale my dad said their webbings were sabotaged with acid, the plane was being guarded by Americans. We have no way of confirming this story.”

Airborne Assault records state Frank Parry was jump trained at RAF Ringway on Course 23 (Wounded 8 December 1944. Awarded MM 10 May 1945 (London Gazette). Took part on Op. Hasty. From Royal Welsh Fusiliers (RWF). Joined Reserves 15 May 1946 Transfer & Enlistment book 15/88

 Course 23 Report States: 10 Officers and 222 OR from RWF attended.

“It was the first occasion on which a large proportion of the trainees were drawn from a Regiment which had been turned over to parachuting more or less en bloc, it The Royal Welsh Fusiliers and were not therefore 100% volunteers as in the past”

There were 2 fatal accidents. Lt GR Edwards dies as a result of somersaulting in making his exit and got badly tangles in his rigging line. The name of the other fatality is not recorded, however it states that they were not British.

Profile created with information and imagery kindly donated by Ken Parry (son)