Roll of Honour

Fred Heads

Following a long illness, Fred at the age of 89 years passed away on 28th October 2013.

He became a boy soldier at Chepstow where he adopted the trade of Carpenter & Joiner. At the age of 19 he joined 3 Para Sqn RE shortly after it became part of the newly formed 6th Airborne Division.

As a member of 1 Troop he took part in D-Day, Normandy, Ardennes campaign, Rhine Landing and Germany to the Baltic.

After the end of the European war the Squadron moved to the far east, where he served in the Dutch East Indies, before the Squadron rejoined the 6th Airborne Division in Palestine. Fred left the Middle East in 1947 when the Squadron returned to the UK before moving to Germany.

Following the disbandment of the Airborne RE Squadrons he became a Sgt in the newly formed 9 Independent Parachute Squadron RE.

After retiring from the army Fred took up the trade as a carpenter instructor.

Until its demise, Fred regularly attended the annual 6th Airborne Division RE dinners in London and until ill health took its hold he often took part in the D-Day pilgrimage.

He leaves a widow, Doreen and a daughter in New Zealand.