Private John Bardini

John (Giovanni Marco Luigi) Bardini enlisted with Royal Fusiliers on 13 June 1940. His records state he was a 'caterer' before enlisting. John volunteered for the airborne forces and was parachute jump qualified 30 November 1941. Probably on RAF Ringway Course 2/4 ADV.  He was then posted to The 3rd Para Bn, B Coy.

John disembarked North Africa 11 November 1942. It is  believed he was part of 3 Battalion which captured the German airfield at Bone, Tunisia. Probably part of Lt. FWM Sharman MC or Lt Cleminson patrols. Both patrols were reported missing in the War Diary 20 December 1942, the same day as John Bardini was reported missing believed wounded.

It is possible he swapped his tags with a fallen soldier as being Italian and fighting against German and Italian soldiers he would have been killed. His wife got a visit and a letter saying he had been killed but was receiving letters from John under a different name. In John's service record there is a handwritten note which suggests he was also known as George Stone 7461416. 

Official POW Records list: 6471416 J. Bardini RAC, POW number 250027, Camp 4F Hartmansdorf Chemnitz. 

John was released to the Reserves in August 1946.