265089 Spr. Elwyn Charles Locke British Army 1st Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers from:12 Battens Ave. Overton, Hants Elwyn Locke joined the TA in October 1937, posted to B Company, 4th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment.
His trade at enlistment was that of carpenter and joiner.
In January 1940 he was posted to the 12th Division Royal Engineers at rank of Sapper.
On the 19th of April 1940 he disembarked in France with the British Expeditionary Force and on the 2nd of June 1940 was probably evacuated during Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of Dunkirk. At this time he was posted to HQ 51st Division, R.E.
During the Christmas period 1940 he was posted as Absent Without Leave for 2 days and five hours and forfeited one days' pay. Probably to much celebrating during this time!
Again, in January 1941 he was awarded 27 days Field Punishment under Section 40 after neglecting to obey an order given by an N.C.O. However, he was released from FP after serving 10 days (time off for good behaviour?)
In August & September 1942 he was first posted to Home detail No.2 Depot Battalion RE then to No. 1 Company RE at Halifax, West Yorkshire. On 15th of May 1943 he embarked UK with the British North Africa Force, disembarking North Africa on the 27th.
Whilst there he was posted to the 3rd Battalion pending transfer to the Army Air Corps.
He disembarked the UK on the 7th of November 1943.
In June 1944 he was posted to No. 1 RE and in July he was attached to Airborne Forces and the following day to School Airborne Forces.
On the 17th of September 1944, the first day of operation Market Garden, he parachuted into the Arnhem area as part of the 1st Parachute Squadron, RE. On the 25th he was posted as missing in action in North West Europe but later found to have been taken prisoner and was a POW at Stalag X1B, near Fallingbostel, Lower Saxony. He was liberated along with the rest of the camp on the 21st of April 1945.
During July 1945 he was posted to the 2nd Division RE and the following day to B Battalion RE at Aldershot.
Once again, during July, he was again posted as AWOL from 23.59hrs to 08.00hrs the following day and was forfeited one days' pay.
In September 1945 he was posted to the 1st Airborne Division RE and the following month proceeded overseas as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, No.1 Airborne Squadron as Sapper, returning to the UK in April 1946 then to reserve TA.
On the 19th of May 1947 he was discharged from service, although medically fit as his services were no longer required having enlisted into the TA into 1560 Company, Para Brigade, Royal Army Service Corps, TA.
0n the 4th October he married Iris Daisy Locke at Wood Green, London, N22.
On the 1st of October 1948 he was transferred to Artists Rifles, Army Air Corps then to 21 SAS (Artists) Regiment TA.
On the 27th of June 1950 he was discharged from the TA at his own request.
He had served in France for two months, Africa for 6 months and as a PoW for seven months.
Medals awarded: (This may not be totally correct) 1939-1943 Star, 1939-1945 Defence Medal and France and Germany Star.
Conduct Exemplary.
Elwyn died suddenly aged 50 in May 1971.
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