John 'Scruff' P West Obituary

Scruff passed away on Friday 19th Of January 2024 at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.He had been unwell for some time.

Our deepest GPA heartfelt condolences and sympathy go to his Daughters Catriona and Tiffany please send Cards of sympathy to his daughters Catriona and Tiffany West  at 22 Newton Street, Clitheroe,Lancashire,BB7 1DD

Scruff Enlisted into the Army in 1962 (see the attached PDf document ) And Volunteered for Airborne Forces in 1963 when he and Peter Penlington RHG/D were posted  from BAOR and successfully completed the Guards Parachute Company Hardening course ( A right GPC Beaster especially the Sand Hill) out of 136 Candidates just 12 made it through to P Pegasus Company.

He and The GPC were ( crashed out with 16 Parachute Brigade ) Then Operationally deployed to Cyprus in December 1963 with their Armoured Ferret Scout Cars then back to the UK in 1964 to train with 22 SAS Regiment on their First Operational tour of Borneo in 1964 ( see guardsmen of the sky book page 102 to 117 )

Danny Sinclair IG said that Scruff who was in 2 Troop was one of the most professional Patrol Medics he had ever known and he came top of the class on their course with 23 Parachute Field Ambulance including instruction at the School Of Tropical Medicine Millbank London. Danny in 1964 remembers how Scruff was so full of Empathy for a village that was struck down with Cholera when the GPC Medics had to Vaccinate the whole Village against Cholera and saving their lives.

John(Scruff)West was an exceptional Example of Compassion and Empathy including that indomitable Trojan Guardsman of the Sky ethos and exemplary attitude to Soldiering.

At the November 2022 GPA reunion AGM ! Scruff gave us an excellent indubitable insight into life as a In Pensioner at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and it’s wonderful caring and excellent facilities for In Pensioners, which he said was Second to None ( he got a standing ovation from us all ) 

“He will be so sorely missed by all”