Sergeant Jonathan Thompson

Joined 216 Para Signal Squadron in December 1974 as Signalman. Deployed to Sharjah Feb 1975, for desert training the day after passing Para Training at Abingdon.

Went to Belfast with 2 Para  Springfield Road, Jan 1975.

Went to Canada with X and Y Vigilant platoon for live missile fire and parachute training.

Deployed to USA at Fort Campbell with 1 Para in 1979, followed with a deployment to Hong Kong as part of  1 Para, Jan - Apr 1980. Working with the signal Platoon our Platoon Commander was Dick Trigger.

After a couple of Italy trips 1975 and 1979 arrived by Parachute for this trip, Went out to Kenya in 1981 with 2 Para based at Nanuki working the CP along with my friend Mark Holman-Smith (who was sadly killed a year later at Goose Green)

Deployed on Canberra with 3 Para, Landing at Port San Carlos. I then joined B coy for the tab to Estancia House and was with the 2ic's group for Mount Longdon. Assisting with Casevac and Resupply.

In 1983 I went to Belize with B Coy 2 Para at Holdfast Camp.

I left Aldershot in 1984 and spent 18 Months over in Germany with 4 Armoured Brigade before being Promoted and moved to Bulford, I was surprised to Find I was on Arctic training with 1 Para. Meeting up with some old acquaintances.

Finished my time in Catterick, Training at the signals school before the camp was taken over Para training and Infantry Training. I moved to the other side of  Catterick for my last 18 months which started with being deployed to Bosnia in 1994/95 before leaving the Army in 1997.