Sergeant Harold WJ Guest

Harold WJ Guest enlisted into the Royal Artillery on the 13 February 1940. [1]

He was serving with a Field Artillery unit when he volunteered for the new Airborne Forces in late 1940 or early 1941, and joined the 11th Special Air Service Battalion (Parachute Wing).

Harold did his Basic Parachute Course at RAF Ringway in late 1940 or early 1941, and also attended the Advanced Course No 4 at RAF Ringway, 3 – 7 February 1942, where he carried out on descent from balloon at night and two from an aircraft in sections of 10 with arms containers. [2]

When the unit was converted in August 1941 to become the 1st Parachute Battalion, within the 1st Parachute Brigade he was still a Private, and was assigned to 3 Platoon, ‘R’ Company. [3]

By October 1942, as the Battalion was preparing to sail for North Africa he was a corporal and the 2 i/c of No 1 Mortar Detachment, ‘T’ Company. [4]
He served throughout the North African campaign in Tunisia, and by 1943 he was a War Substantive Sergeant serving in ‘R’ Company. [5] Whilst the Battalion was in Italy he was chosen by Lt. RA Halstead to be part of a Section from ‘R’ Company to take part in Operation ‘SIMCOL’.
Harold parachuted behind the enemy lines, in Italy, on the 2 October 1943, and eventually made it back to Allied lines on the 8 December 1943. [6]
He transferred to a Heavy Anti-Aircraft unit of the Royal Artillery on the 28 June 1944. [1]

NOTES:
[1] The Parachute Regiment, Transfer and Enlistment Book 03, page 12.
[2] Parachute Course Report, RAF Ringway. February 1942.
[3] 11 th SAS Battalion. ORBAT. August 1941.
[4] 1st Parachute Battalion. ORBAT. November 1942.
[5] 1st Parachute Battalion. Nominal Roll. September-December 1943.
[6] Report on operation SIMCOL by Sgt. HWJ Guest. Appx IV. War Diary.