Private Clifford H Watts

Cliff Watts registered for National Service, volunteered for The Parachute Regiment, and with general service training completed went directly to The Parachute Regiment at Aldershot for infantry training, bypassing what is now known as P Company, around September 1947.

Having completed infantry training, Cliff was posted to attend Parachute Course 235 at RAF Upper Heyford, which ran from 3 February to 9 March 1948. After gaining his wings he was posted back to Aldershot and onto 7 (Light Infantry) Battalion, then based in Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR).

He took part in two mass jumps while with the Battalion but shortly after aircraft were diverted for the Berlin air lift, resulting in the temporary cessation of jumps.

In July 1948, 7 (LI) Bn was redesignated as 3 PARA, 16th Independent Brigade (and 7 LI Bn and the 6th Airborne marched into history). The night before the change over Cliff and five others mounted guard as light infantry and no fixed bayonets; in the morning they fixed bayonets and when they marched off the change over was complete. Ever since he has claimed to be the last of the 7th Bn and the first of the 3rd Bn.

In September 1948, Cliff volunteered for the Experimental & Demonstration Platoon and was posted back to Depot, The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces, in Aldershot where Colonel Darling was CO and Major Watson was Company Commander. From Aldershot he was posted to Netheravon/ Beaulieu depending on jumping requirements.

While in the platoon, Cliff performed the first jumps from the Hastings & Valetta and also did demonstration balloon jumps. With the platoon tour over in June 1949, Cliff was sent on a NCO cadre for a month and then returned to Netheravon for one last jump from a Dakota (25 July) prior to Aldershot and demobilisation (inspite of his entreaties!).

In 1954, and by now a married man, Cliff emigrated to Canada, where he is now a member of British Airborne Forces (CANADA) Association.