Warrant Officer Class 2 Albert E Ashworth

Albert Edward Ashworth (known as Al or Ally)was born in Cheetham Manchester on the 29 October 1937, and was educated at St Johns Primary School Higher Broughton Salford 7 and at North Salford Secondary Modern School for Boys.

On Leaving School at age 15 he became an Electrician apprentice with William Anderton Ltd, and a year later became a Bound apprentice with the Harland Engineering Co Ltd training as an Electrical Engineer.

He had a keen interest in Army Cadets which he joined at the age of 13, in which he took up and became successful at Target Rifle Shooting. It was as a Cadet on the Ranges at Altcar that he first met Sgt Bill Bell (2 Para) who was the Permanent Staff Instructor with the Parachute Regiment at Cross Lane Drill Hall in Salford, who invited him to join the TA at Cross Lane. Which he did in January of 1957 attending the Parachute Course at RAF Abingdon which he passed and then attended several Parachute Exercises Flying from RAF Dishforth onto Downholme Moor,and by road into Wast Water and Scafell pike. At this time the CSM was Bucket Lawrence and the RSM Jock Rennie.

In 1958 Al pre-empted receiving his National Service call up papers when he was 21, by enlisting into the Regular Army through the Manchester Army Enlistment Office, the big Guards Sgt asking “Do you want to join the Guards Son?” Hearing his reply Al was given a warrant and ordered to report to Airborne Forces Depot at Maida Barracks, Aldershot on the 5th November 1958, which he did joining 163 Platoon (Pl Sgt Zoom Spencer & Cpl Bully) for recruit training and a further parachute course at RAF Abingdon. This time being billeted at the old RN Air Station Culham and being bussed into RAF Abingdon daily. He was injured on this course (spending time in Hospital at RAF Halton & RAF Wroughton) and back squadded to 167 Platoon (Pln Sgt Rocky Small) to pass out as Champion Recruit on 29 May 1959.

1959 to 1961  2 Para – Cyprus - Kuwait - Exercises in Malta - Libya

Al was in the first daft sent to 2 Para [who were on a 3 year tour In Cyprus) on the RMS Empire Fowey (via Gibraltar & Malta) where he joined 6 Platoon.(OC was Maj Majury-CSM Charlie Howes) he was entered into the Bn Shooting Competition and Won Best Young Soldier Shot and Bn Champion Shot. Promotion Followed and a transfer to A Company. A flare up of the old injury put him in BMH Dekhelia for a short time.

1961 to 1963  - 2 Para Exercise in Greece - France & Denmark

By 1961 he was in HQ Company as the Signals Sgt with Capt Harvey and Later Capt Wood.

1963 - 2 Para Bahrein - Exercises in Trucial Oman - Djebel Ali -

Al was posted to Aden to run the Reinforcement Camp at RAF Muharaq.

1964 during C Patrols Coy Selection in Wales he was again Hospitalised in The Royal Herbert Hospital Woolwich and then the rehabilitation Centre a Seighton Camp near Chester. On release he was sent to AFD at Maida Barracks and then on to PCAU at RAF Abingdon as a Course NCO to recover. After getting back to fitness in 1967 he attended the Senior Brecon Course before rejoining 2 Para where he was D Company Stores.CSgt.

1968 & 1969 - 2 Para Singapore – Malaya & Hong Kong.- Anguila -Exercises in France.

In 1969 He was posted to RMA Sandhurst after completing the Guards Drill Course at Pirbright, as an Instructor In Ypres Company New College.

1971 - 1972 - 2 Para Northern Ireland 3 Four Month Tours [Op Motorman].

In 1971 he was promoted to WO2 and returned to 2 Para first as Sniper Instructor in HQ Coy and then as CSM D Company after which he became the Signals WO.

1973 - 2 Para Malaya -Jungle Warfare School & Training -Northern Ireland 2 Four Month Tours - NATO Exercise Turkey
In 1975 he was posted to 4Para TA as SPSI of B Company at Rifle Street Oldham then back to 2 Para.

In 1977 he was posted to The Parachute Regiment Battle School at Derring Lines Wales as the Divisional Sgt Major of the Junior NCO's Division then back to 2 Para where again he was the Signals WO.

1978 - 1980 - 2 Para 2 year tour of Berlin & 2 Four Month Tours of Northern Ireland

In 1978 to 1980 as WO2 he took over the PRI in Berlin opening the Greyburn Club (with the CO's consent) and then was responsible for moving the Battalion from Berlin after Leave to Ballykinler Northern Ireland and continuing to run the PRI.

In 1980 at the end of 22 years service he went on the Long Service List and went to Simpson Barracks Northampton as WO2 of 2 Cadet Training Team.