Child Soldiers ... 3 Para

[Chris Boonzaier]

I just saw this today.... I realise people can join when they are younger than 18, but did not know they could be sent into combat?

The Foreign Legion takes 17 and a half, but by the time they are trained and land up in a unit they would be 18. Even with huge personnel shortages you usually find German soldiers in WW1 (even in 1918) were over 18 before landing at the front...

So 2 KIA at 17 years of age really surprised me here...

38 years ago today and over the next couple of days ....
Men of 3 PARA were fighting in the battle for Mount Longdon. 23 men were killed, Two of the dead – Privates Ian Scrivens and Jason Burt – were only seventeen years old, and Private Neil Grose was killed on his 18th birthday. R.I.P Airborne Warriors.

In remembrance of all 3 Para and attachments killed in action during the 1982 campaign :-

Pte, Richard (Dickie) Absolon. MM, killed in action.
Pte Gerald Bull, killed in action.
Pte Jason Burt, killed in action.
Pte Jon Crow, killed in action.
Pte Mark Dodsworth, killed in action.
Pte Anthony Greenwood, killed in action.
Pte Neil Grose, killed in action.
Pte Peter Hedicker, killed in action.
LCpl Peter Higgs, killed in action.
Cpl Stevie Hope, killed in action.
Pte Tim Jenkins, killed in action.
Pte Craig Jones, killed in action.
Pte Stewart Laing, killed in action.
Cpl Chris Lovett MID killed in action.
Cpl Keith McCarthy, killed in action.
Sgt Ian McKay VC, killed in action.
Cpl Stewart McLaughlin, killed in action.
LCpl James (Doc) Murdoch, killed in action.
LCpl Dave Scott, killed in action.
Pte Ian Scrivens, killed in action.
Cfn Alex Shaw, REME, killed in action.
Pte Philip West, killed in action.
Cfn Alex Shaw, killed in action.
Cpl Scott Wilson, 9 Para Sqn RE, killed in action.

Wounded in Action:
Pte Danny Blair, gunshot wound.
Pte Richard Etches, gunshot wound.
Pte David Poole, gunshot wound.
Pte Andrew Smith, gunshot wound.
Pte Frank McWilliams, gunshot wound.
LCpl John Hare 9 Sqn, gunshot wound.
LCpl Michael Stanton, gunshot wound.
LCpl Stephen Harnden, gunshot wound.
Pte Frank MacWilliams, gunshot wound.
Pte Lee Fisher, shrapnel wound.
Cpl Brian Milne, mine explosion, loss of leg.
Pte Peter Hindmarsh, gunshot wound.
Sgt Pete Gray, gunshot wound.
Pte Kev Eaton, gunshot wound.
Pte Simon Clark, gunshot wound.
Pte Julian Barrett, gunshot wound.
Pte Michael (mushrooms) Bateman, gunshot wound.
Pte Dennis Dunn, shrapnel wound.
Pte Stuart Grey, shrapnel wound.
LCpl Steve Wright, gunshot wound.
Pte James Brebner, shrapnel wound.
Pte James O’Connell, gunshot wound.
Cpl Paddy Rehill, gunshot wound.
Pte Sid Fuller, shrapnel wound.
Pte Keith Taff Parry, gunshot wound.
Pte Dave Kempster, multiple gunshot wounds, loss of arm.
Lt Andy Bickerdike, gunshot wound.
Cpl Ian Bailey MM, gunshot wound.
Pte Jeff Logan, gunshot wound.
Cpl Ned Kelly, gunshot wound.
Pte Mick Cullen, gunshot wound.
Pte Mick Swain, gunshot wound.
Capt Giles Open Smellie, gunshot wound.
LCpl Roy Bassey, mine explosion, loss of foot.
Cpl Paul Roberts, flash burns to eyes from mine explosion.
LCpl Lenny Carver, gunshot wound.
Pte Dominic Gray, gunshot wound.
Cpl Graham Heaton, gunshot wound, loss of leg.
Pte Frank O`Regan, gunshot wound.
Cfn Clive Sinclair, Laceration to skull
LCpl Garry Cripps, shrapnel wounds.
Pte Chris Dexter, shrapnel wounds.
Pte Bill Metcalfe, gunshot wound.
Capt Adrian Logan, shrapnel wound.
Cpl Phil Skidmore, shrapnel wounds.
LCpl Roger James, shrapnel wounds.
Pte Grant Grinham, multiple shrapnel wounds, loss of leg. .
Pte Andy Steadman, shrapnel wound.
Pte Dean Coady, shrapnel wound..
Pte Mark Blaine, shrapnel wound.
Pte David Goldsmith, shrapnel wound.
Pte Alan Sparrock, shrapnel wound.
Pte Mark Meredith, shrapnel wound.
Cpl Jerry Phillips, multiple shrapnel wounds.
Cpl Mark Brown, shrapnel wounds.
LCpl, Denzil Connick multiple shrapnel wounds, loss of leg.

EVERY MAN AN EMPEROR

[Deelibob]

Stuart McLoughlin was a Wallasey lad who is buried close to my home. He was killed in Action 38 years ago today. He is commemorated with a CWGC headstone in Rake Lane cemetery and a tablet at the Wallasey war memorial on the Waterfront at New Brighton(Attached) There has been a campaign to have  Stuart awarded a VC for which I believe he was originally considered. I have seen a Female on Remembrance Sundays wearing a Northern Ireland CSM, South Atlantic and Elizabeth Cross and assume them to be Stuarts relatives.