Private Richard I Scott

Richard Ingles Scott enlisted into The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, before he volunteered for airborne forces.

After completion of the selection course at Hardwick Hall, he was posted to the 2nd Parachute Battalion (2nd Para Bn) then in the process of forming up, and assigned to C Company (C Coy). C Coy had been nicknamed 'Jock’s' company as most of the soldiers posted to it were from Scottish regiments. Along with other members of C Coy he attended the first parachute training course for personnel of No 1 Parachute Brigade at RAF Ringway in November 1941.

Shortly after returning from the 1st advanced training course in January 1942, C Coy began intense training and preparation for the Bruneval Raid, a daring parachute operation into enemy occupied France to capture components from a German Würzburg radar installation.

Private Scott was a member of Lieutenant John Timothy’s 'Rodney' Section for the raid and flew in the Whitley aircraft numbered Z9215 and flown by Squadron Leader Meade. They landed successfully on the assigned drop zone and moved to their positions to ‘mask’ the enemy forces at the nearby farm complex. Upon completion of this task they acted as escort for the Royal Engineers and Flt/Sgt Cox RAF to the beach and the embarkation point, where the group came under fire from pill boxes and casualties were sustained.

Later that year Pte Scott sailed with the 2nd Battalion to take part in the North African campaign.

He went jumped with the 2nd Para Bn when it dropped with the 1st Parachute Brigade during the hard fought costly attempt to secure the Primosole Bridge in Sicily on 13 July 1943. It is believed it was here that Pte Scott was taken Prisoner of War.

Records show he was held at an Italian Prison Camp - Camp 66 (Capua), near Naples.

Richard Scott lived stayed fit and lived an active life, reaching 99 years of age when he passed away in May 2007.