Colour Sergeant Eric Seal

Eric Seal was  immensely proud to have served in the 1st Parachute Battalion, with its lineage as the first British Airborne unit in the form of 11 SAS and No 2 Commando.

Eric was born in February 1920 and was serving in the Army early in the Second World War with 2/7th Battalion, Warwickshire Regiment. 

Eric undertook extensive training in Northern Ireland to prepare for his volunteering for airborne forces. He also took time to train the local Home Guard, for which he was awarded an additional day's leave.

On 11 March 1942 Eric applied for service with the airborne forces. He transferred to The 3rd Parachute Bn on 16 April 1942 and on 17 April was sent to Hardwick Hall to start his airborne forces training and selection. 

Eric was parachute jump trained at RAF Ringway on Course 13. This "Preliminary training course for men and officers of The No.1 Parachute Brigade", ran between 4 and 12 May 1942. The course consisted of 2 descents from balloon and 5 from aircraft. His diary states Eric was then transferred to The 1st Parachute Bn on 2 June 1942. 

Sgt Seal was part of 5 Platoon, S Company, 1st Parachute Battalion. during the North African campaign, and later in Sicily and Italy in 1943.

By September 1944, he had transferred to R Company, 1st Parachute Battalion as a Colour Sergeant, and was made Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS) with R Company 1st Parachute Battalion, part of 1st Parachute Brigade for the operation.

He was sent to Arnhem on the Second Lift on 18 September 1944, and arrived by glider. The glider was hit on landing however, destroying the jeep and its contents, and he had to join the Battalion on foot. CQMS Seal was one of few to escape at the end of the Battle, returning to Allied lines across the Rhine.

Eric transferred back to The Royal Warwickshire Regiment 5 June 1945.

Eric Seal died in March 2003, aged 83 years old.

Scott Seal recalls his father telling him: "That N.Ireland was a tough place to train marching over all the six counties. He attended the 61st Division School of Tactics in the area of the Giants Causeway and was promoted to Lance Sgt, he was then sent to the British Small Arms Wing, Hythe Wing, Bisley, England and obtained a Q1 result (top pass) on his course.  On his return to the battalion was promoted to full Sgt. Q1 Weapons Instructor and Enemy Weapons Instructor. Then in 1941 they were asking for volunteers for Parachute Units being formed so he volunteered and was accepted. He was sent to Hardwick Hall passed his various tests and was assigned to the 3rd Parachute Battalion but upon being awarded his wings he was transferred to the 1st Parachute Battalion. The timeline says he was a Colour Sgt from 1942. But in fact he was a Sgt. in charge of No2 Section numbering ten Paratroopers Cpl. Duxbury, L/Cpl Millar, Yates,Crosby, Benton, Westlake, Brooker, Davies and Wayre of5 Platoon, S Company. He later on became Platoon Sgt when Sgt Sammy Steadman MM his friend was wounded along with Lt Arthur Kellas MC who lost one eye on the First Ambush of German Armoured cars. He also fought in the following Battles in North Africa (1942-43) after Landing by parachute at Beja Souk El Harbour and the ambush of German Armour ,Soudia (Battle of Gue Hill Tank Harbour), Djebel Allilgala (Battle of Monsour & Argoub), El Hadjeba (Battle of Bou Arada), Battle of Tamera , Djebel Dahra (Battle of Bowler Hat) Kef El Debna.Sicily the Battle of the Primosole Bridge on the Catania Plains by parachute. Italy a Sea Landing at Taranto and then just prior to Arnhem he was promoted Colour Sgt (CQMS) landing by an Horsa Glider which was consequently blown up. He finished his military service in Palestine 1947"

My parents were married in October 1944 one month after surviving the Battle of Arnhem. My parents met at Peterborough prior to Arnhem when my mother worked as a Land Army girl Mavis Seal nee Crossley she was from Leeds , Yorkshire and had blonde hair and stunning blue eyes. She was a real lady and obviously caught my Dad's eye."

Further reading

Max Arthur, Men of the Red Beret: Airborne Forces 1940-1990, (1990), Hutchinson.

Martin Middlebrook, Arnhem 1944: The Airborne Battle (1994), Viking: London & New York