Harry Gillard joined the Royal Signals c.1932 and served in India until 1944.
He volunteered for airborne forces and qualified as a military parachutist on course 134 which ran at RAF Ringway from 18 September to 5 October 1944. Cpl Gillard received a good course report which notes ‘Diligent, good personal example, good performer’.
He was posted to 6th Airborne Divisional Signals, serving with the 5th Parachute Brigade.
On Operation Varsity Cpl Gillard emplaned at 07.45 on 24 March 1945, landing just to the west of Hamminkeln. The Signal Section lost a considerable amount of its equipment on or soon after landing. His Commanding Officer Lieutenant Crawford was killed minutes after speaking with him at the RV.
He went on to serve in Indonesia before being demobbed in 1946.
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