Thomas Mechan | ParaData

Pte Thomas ‘Tam’ Mechan.15th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (TA)and 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment.

Thomas Mechan enlisted into the 15th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (TA) in 1975 and served with the Signals Platoon, from 10 June 1975 to the 19 March 1979. In 1979 he volunteered for service with the Regular Army and passed P Company with 456 Platoon on 2 November 1979.
Private Mechan was posted to 2 PARA and served in Northern Ireland on Operation Banner.

He served with Company HQ, D Company, 2 PARA on Operation Corporate. 25 year old Pte Mechan was killed by a stray bullet in daylight when D Company was still in reserve behind the leading companies of 2 PARA.

Pte Mechan is buried at Aldershot Military Cemetery.

The Drill Hall, for D-Company (Fire Support), 15th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (TA) at Troon was named after him. The Drill Hall had been ‘opened’ by Colonel Chris Keeble in 1986.

Profile image taken of Pte Tam Mechan whilst serving with 15 PARA. 1975-79

See account of Goose Green co-edited by Colonel David Benest

Submitted with research and imagery kindly submitted by R Hilton

Date not known
The 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) (Private)

Operations

Event

Falklands (Operation Corporate)

On 2nd April 1982 Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, a British Territory in the South Atlantic, followed the next day by an assault on South Georgia. The defending Royal Marines detachment at both locations were taken prisoner after fierce firefights.

Event

Northern Ireland (Operation Banner)

A brief honeymoon as peace keepers between two warring communities locked in civil unrest descended into a virtual civil war between Republican IRA and Protestant para-military groups during the Northern Ireland ‘Troubles’ that were to last 37 years.

Decorations

GSM
SAMR

Official documents_1

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Pte T Mechan's Death Statement

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Grave of Pte Thomas Mechan

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Mechan Hall Memorial Plaque

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Tom Mechan

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Tam Mechan. D-Coy, 2 PARA. MV Norland. May 1982

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455 and 456 Platoon

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Documents_1

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455 and 456 Passing Out Parade Booklet (last page)

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Latest Comments

Bill Bentley said:

I worked with Tam, the 'Wee Man' during the 1979-81 tour of NI. His talent as a comedian was our luck during many a bleak moment. When he fell, at Goose Green, a light went out! Since when, I can't remember ever laughing as loudly or as long as we used to.

winker watson said:

I joined Depot Para with Tam in 456 Platoon. He was a great mate and close friend as we were both from the Eastend of Glasgow. He will always be missed and remembered.

David Howie said:

Tam was a member of Support Company 15 PARA (SV) who signed on for an S Type engagement and was posted to 2 PARA. His engagement over, he was due to return but with a tour in Belize coming up, extended his engagement.
He was a great lad with a sense of fun. He was remembered when a new drill hall in Troon was named Mechan Hall.

Raymond Timmons said:

Yes David Howie nice comments. Tam Mechan was liked by all members of 15 Para I have good memories of Tam rest in peace Airborn brother

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Private Thomas Mechan

{ Tam }

13 Apr 1957 - 28 May 1982

Service History