Sergeant Richard L Tomkins

Sergeant Richard Lawson Tomkins from Aberdeen served with 15th (Scottish) Parachute Battalion (TA) (15 PARA (SV)).

On 11 September1974 he took part in exercise Bold Guard, a large-scale NATO exercise involving UK, German and Danish Forces. A parachute mis-drop, south of the Kiel Canal, Germany, resulted in much heavy-drop equipment and 25 soldiers parachuting into the canal, which was still open when the drop occurred. 6 Parachutists were killed, one soldier from A Company 4 PARA (V) in Liverpool, four soldiers from 15 PARA (SV) and an officer cadet from Heriot Watt University Officer Training Corps (OTC).

Sgt Tomkins was one of those who drowned in the Canal. His body was discovered at 14.05hrs on 12 September 1974.

An Obituary in Pegasus Journal No1 January 1975:

Exercise ‘BOLD GUARD’

11th September 1974

On the night of 11th September 1974, a parachuting accident during the course of NATO exercise ‘BOLD GUARD’ in Germany resulted in the tragic deaths of

Capt Gerald Muir - A Coy, 15 PARA

Officer Cadet James Cooper - C Coy, 15 PARA

Sgt Richard Tomkins - B Coy, 15 PARA

Sgt Elliot Leask - Sp Coy, 15 PARA

LCpl Brian Bett - Sp Coy, 15 PARA

Pte Edward Beech [Beach] - A Coy, 4 PARA

All of us who were with them that night, and all past and present members of Airborne Forces, share with their relatives part of the burden of their loss. Our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences go to their wives, children and parents.

Teacher, student, engineer, postman, mechanic, and bricklayer – all were Volunteers in every sense of the word. They willingly and cheerfully accepted the rigours of military training and the challenge of parachuting. They were not dissuaded by the risks involved. Whilst we mourn their passing, we remember them with gratitude for what they were – fine young men from different backgrounds united by a spirit of adventure and the common bond of loyalty to both Regiment and country, in whose service they died.

Between them they totalled nearly thirty years of part-time soldiering in defence of peace and to the benefit to us all. We give thanks for the privilege of their comradeship, the pleasure of their company and the fine example they set us by their service.