Roll of Honour

Eric Mathews 19th October 1933 - 14th April 2022

BRIEF SUMMARY OF ERIC'S ARMY SERVICE

• Enlisted in Royal Engineers, Pall Mall, Liverpool on September 21st 1951
• Did basic training at Malvern Links, Worcestershire
• Posted to 49 Railway Training Regiment for trade as Traffic Clerk.
• Posted to Seaforth Barracks, Liverpool to work on receiving Marshall Aid imports from U.S.A, at Liverpool Docks.
• Posted to No. 1 Engineering Stores Department, Stratford-on-Avon. Worked in Railway Section.
• Joined “P " Company at Maida Barracks, Aldershot, and then on to R.A.F. Abingdon for para training. Then posted to Barton Stacey, Andover, for transfer to 1 Troop, 9 Squadron, in Moascar, Egypt in 1952.
• Squadron OCs were Majors Pointer and Edwards.
• Squadron SSMs were Bill Powell and Reg Orton.
• 1 Troop Sergeants were W. Martin, Tubby Lennon and John Elliott.
• Approximately 48-50 descents from Hastings, Vallettas and Cl 19 aircraft.
• Took part in exercises in Sinai Desert involving 42 ? Commando and R.A.F.
• Regiment.
• Night drop in Cyprus and normal sapper work. Came back to Waterloo Barracks, Aldershot.
• Two days off demob in 1956 I was sent back to Cyprus and took part in operations Sparrowhawk and Foxhunter against Eoka at Kyrenia and Nicosia in northern Cyprus. Then came “Musketeer" battle of Port Said along with French Legionnaires.
• Returned to U.K. in Shackletons from Cyprus in time for Christmas and New Year 1956.
• Demobbed in 1957.