Major General Purdon takes the salute at Remembrance Day parade.

Yesterday, I had the absolute pleasure of attending the Remembrance Day parade and service of the London Irish Rifles (LIR), the regiment with whom my father served from October 1939 to July 1946.

Taking the salute of the parade of over 200 men including veterans, current serving members of the London Regiment and the LIR's army cadet force was Major General Corran Purdon, President of the LIR Regimental Association.

For those who are not aware, Maj-Gen Purdon was an Army Commando during the Second World War and joined raids in Norway and on St Nazaire where he was wounded and captured. After escaping from POW camp in Germany he was transferred to Colditz castle. After his repatriation, a distinguished post war career followed. Now 90 years of age, he is a most remarkable man with a very vibrant personality, as those who saw him in the recent ITV documentary about Colditz can testify.

I had the honour of speaking later to Maj-Gen Purdon in the officers' mess and was extremely moved when he made some very complimentary remarks about my father. I couldn't have felt prouder. Never has the phrase "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away" seem so inappropriate.


best,

Richard

ps I have photographs but their size precludes me adding them here.

 

The above was, I think, one of my earliest posts on this Forum.

Some of you may already know that Major General Corran Purdon CBE MC CPM died yesterday (27th June 2018) at the age of 97 years.

A remarkable man, a remarkable life..

Quis Separabit.

ps I attach a photo from the 2012 Loos Day parade at Connaught House