Acting Sergeant John R Wills

John Wills joined Junior Para Company 1962 - 1963 as a musician, having been encouraged to do so by the recruit Team at Leicester.

 He transferred to depot in June 1963, joining a recruit platoon on their 8th week of training.  Completed P Company and attended Abingdon to complete Parachute training December 1963 - February 1964. 

John then moved to 3 Para in time to go to Bahrain on their 1964 deployment. Whilst in Bahrain transferred to the Drums platoon just after the battalion returned from the Radfan Operation. He remained in the drums platoon and was promoted to rank of  L/Cpl in 1967. 

John completed a Junior NCO's Course January/February 1968 under the tuition of 'Squeaky Holborn'.  Promoted to Cpl and transferred to C Company 3 Para, May 1968.  Remained in C Company and posted to Malta 1968.  1969 flew back to UK to attend  NCO's Tactical Course in Wales and returned to Malta. Promoted to Sergeant October 1969 and appointed as Drum Major.

John remained as Drum Major until 1972. He received a serious leg injury playing seven-aside Rugby whilst on UN tour 1972, and returned to the UK to attend Headley Court.

Early 1973 after recovery he was posted to Junior Parachute Company as a Platoon instructor, and eventually taking on the role as adventure training instructor.  Transferred back to C Company 3 Para in 1974.

John resigned from the Army 1977.