236483 Capt. John Joseph McCarthy British Army 1st Btn. York and Lancaster Regiment My father John McCarthy was a career soldier, joining in 1926 as a Private and, after 22.5 years' service, left the Army as a Captain. His service covered his
sporting achievements in the pre-2nd. World War years at Olympia in
London, through to shipping over to France with the B.E.F. before being
pulled out to go over with the Y&L's with Sickleforce into the Norwegian
campaign in 1940.
Having been left behind in Norway during the evacuation of Allied
troops, he made his way on foot to Sweden along with other soldiers he
met en route to be interned. He was then repatriated by the Red Cross in
England in July, 1940.
Back home he was put forward for his commission and we believe from
documents we have that he was engaged during the rest of the war in
training the fledgling RAF Regiment in defence of Britain's airfields.
After the war he was stationed in Egypt, seconded to the Green Howards
as Company Commander in Almaza, Middle East Forces, before leaving the
Army via a transit camp in Cyprus on 31st. August, 1946.
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