Lieutenant-Colonel Marvin Manfred

Lt Col Marvin (Manny) Manfred 

Manny Manfred joined Depot Para in May 1971 and remained with 368 Platoon until being posted to ‘C’ Coy 3 PARA in November of that year. Posted to 8 Pl he was selected to attend a Greek Language course at Highbury College in Portsmouth, in preparation for a UN Tour of Cyprus the following year.

Whilst completing the Cyprus tour he was selected for the Intelligence Section as Unit Photographer and attended Photographic Training at HQ Near East Land Forces Photographic Unit in Dhekelia. A further Covert Photography course was attended at RAF Cosford on return from Cyprus in preparation for an emergency tour of operations in the Ardoyne, Belfast. He attended a Unit JNCO course and was promoted to Lance Corporal.

Manny remained in the Intelligence Section of 3 PARA completing another operational tour of Belfast in 1974 and then attended the JNCO Brecon Course. On return from the course he was posted to D (Patrol) Company and in early 1975 took part in a 3-month tour of duty in Singapore and Malaya undertaking jungle Training and Exercises. There followed exchange trips to France and Italy to qualify for French and US Parachute wings and a variety of exercises in the UK and short operational tours to NI.

In 1976 3 PARA undertook a tour of duty in Bessbrook Mill, South Armagh where Manny had been promoted to Corporal and was acting as a patrol Signaller and then became a base operator. As his communication skills included Morse sending and receiving, he was offered a Regimental Signaller Standard 1 Course at the Infantry Signal Wing in Warminster. Though the course was not graded he was awarded best student with a recommendation to return as an Instructor, pending successful attendance at a Regimental Signals Instructor (RSI) Course.

In early 1977 3 PARA were posted to Osnabrück, Westphalia, for a 2-year tour of what was then BAOR, as “Lorried Infantry.” Manny remained in D (Patrol) Coy and whilst in Germany attended the RSI Course at Warminster, being awarded best Student with an ‘A’ grading. In Feb ‘78 there was a further emergency tour of NI where Manny was a Patrol Commander with the Pathfinder Platoon attached to ‘A’ Coy in Woodbourne Camp, Belfast. It was during this tour that he was informed that he had been selected for promotion to Sergeant and was to be posted as an instructor on the Infantry Signal Wing at Warminster in Oct ‘78.

Manny remained at Warminster instructing on the Regimental Signals Instructor’s Wing until 1981 during which time he deployed to Germany as an umpire on Ex Crusader ’80 which was then the largest deployment of UK troops since WW2. He was selected for Army Air Corps helicopter pilot training and was posted to Middle Wallop to undertake education and flying training. Unfortunately, he did not progress from Fixed Wing and returned to 3 PARA who by this time had returned from Germany to Tidworth.

He re-joined 3 PARA in ‘A’ Company as 1 Platoon Sergeant carrying out various exercises including another exchange visit to gain French Para wings. 3 PARA undertook Ex POND JUMP West in Canada from Jul-Aug of 1981 at Wainwright Training Area where the platoon undertook many live firing tactical exercises and lived in the field for the whole period. From Apr-Jul ’82 Manny took part in OP CORPORATE – The Falklands war. The platoon sailed on the SS Canberra and he was Platoon Sergeant for the whole period which saw ‘A’ Company cross the Island and take part in the Battle for Mount Longdon and the subsequent occupation of Port Stanley. He was promoted to Colour Sergeant on the return journey to the UK.

On return from the Falklands Manny was posted to 3 PARA Signal Platoon as Assistant Regimental Signals Officer. In 1983 he attended the 13-week Regimental Signals Officer’s Course at Warminster, again gaining an Instructor recommendation. He took part in a variety of deployments and exercises including a 6-month tour of Belize in 1984. He was subsequently posted to B Coy 3 PARA as Company Quartermaster Sergeant where he undertook training and exercises before promotion to Warrant Officer 2 in Dec ‘85. In early ’86 Manny was posted to 15th (Scottish Volunteer) Battalion for a 2-year tour as Senior PSI of the Training Wing and latterly as CSM of the reformed ‘A’ Company in Glasgow.

A return to 3 PARA followed the TA posting and in early ’88 he assumed the post of Company Sergeant Major of ‘A’ Company in Aldershot. In Feb ’89 the unit undertook a residential tour in Northern Ireland and, immediately on arrival, ‘A’ Coy were stationed in Woodbourne Camp. It was while serving here that Manny was informed that he had been selected for Promotion to WO1 (RSM) and was to be posted to Warminster as the RSM(I) of the Infantry Signals Wing.

In Jun ’89 he assumed the post and served here until his commissioning into the Parachute Regiment in Apr ’92. He was appointed Captain and took up the post of Unit Families Officer with 3 PARA who had returned to Aldershot. In 1994 Manny was again posted to Warminster where he assumed the appointment of SO3 Resources at the School of Infantry.

 In 1995 Manny was posted to 2 PARA in Palace Barracks, Hollywood as MTO and, as the designated Unit Movements Officer, moved the unit back to Aldershot. During his tenure in Aldershot the unit took part in Ex PURPLE STAR in the USA. The unit also deployed on an emergency tour in Bessbrook Mill, South Armagh, where Manny was appointed “BUZZARD” and was responsible for Helicopter operations in and out of the Bessbrook Heliport which was, at that time, the busiest heliport in Europe.

In ’97 Manny retired from Regular service and had successfully interviewed for the NRPS post of Adjutant/Quartermaster at the University of Wales Officer Training Corps in Cardiff. As this was a non-affiliated post he was free to continue to wear Parachute Regiment uniform. After 9 very interesting and sometimes challenging years, Manny successfully applied for the post of 160 (Wales) Brigade Recruiting Advisory Team OC in the rank of Major. He remained in this post until his retirement from full-time service in 2011 at age 60. On retirement he transferred his Gen List Commission to the ACF.

On joining Dyfed & Glamorgan ACF Manny was appointed Area Commander for Ceredigion and was again granted permission to continue to wear Parachute Regiment uniform even though he commanded a Welsh Guards Company! He took a break from military service in 2013 to spend more time with his wife who had retired. In 2015 he was “teased” out of retirement and successfully interviewed for the post of Deputy County Commandant of Dyfed & Glamorgan ACF in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

As a Deputy Commandant, one of his responsibilities was the selection and preparation for candidates for both Adult Instructors and Cadet Force Officers. He is particularly proud that he was able to make a significant impact in both of these areas. Prior to his retirement in Nov ’17 (at age 66) Manny was privileged to hold his last formal parade with a group of cadets in Belgium. He attended the dedication by HRH Prince Charles of the Welsh Dragon Monument at Langemarc where the cadets lined the route and acted as wreath bearers.

Manny lives in West Wales with his wife of 41 years, Linda. He is currently (as at Jun ‘18) Chairman of Trustees for the Motivation & Learning Trust, a young people’s charity which supports the Military Preparation Colleges (MPCT) spread throughout the UK.  He is also an active member of Wales Reserve Forces & Cadets Association.