Lieutenant James Dodds

James ‘Jimmy ‘ Dodds was born in Peebles, Scotland on 13 July 1920,he attended Peebles Public School and his pre-war work was County Council Worker and Steam Drivers Mate. In his early years he was a keen boxer and high diver and was only called James by his mother when he was in trouble.

He married his beloved Grace on 10 January 1942 and went on to have two daughters Jill and Wendy, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Lieutenant Dodds volunteered for airborne forces and under took parachute training course 151 at RAF Ringway from 30 January – 16 February 1945. He was posted to R Company, The 8th (Midlands) Parachute Battalion.

In March 1945 Lt Dodds went as part of the seatail to Operation Varsity and went on to see active service on the Advance to the Baltic and in Palestine.

Post war he lived in London and Scotland before settling in Long Melford, Suffolk.

He had a varied career on leaving the forces but dedicated his life to his family and his spare time to the Freemasons when he wasn't fishing.

Jimmy Dodds died aged 94 on 30 June 2015 after a brief period of being unwell but according to him he could have done his Para and jumps training again.