John Frederich Hately was born 16 March 1922, Kempsey Town, Worcestershire, near the Welsh border.

In 1939, at age 17 years, he joined the Territorial Army (TA) and attended TA Camp July 1939.

03 September 1939, Britain declared war with Germany. After spending a month in a drill hall (initially with no beds or blankets) at Westminster, Uxbridge, John went to Folkestone. He joined Queen’s Westminster Rifles (QWR), who were mounted in carriers.

John was then posted to the Middle-East in 1941, where his Division was engaged in fierce fighting with the Germans and Italians in Egypt. The Division was transported to Egypt in 20 old Liners, via South Africa.

QWR saw action at both Battles of El Alamein in July and October of 1942. QWR then moved to Syria. John, along with 29 others, then volunteered to join the Parachute Regiment. They were sent to Palestine to reinforce 156 Battalion. This is where they completed their Basic Parachute Course (P Company).

156 Battalion moved to Tunisia just as the fighting in that area had finished.

On 01 September 1943, 1st Airborne Division landed by sea at Taranto, Italy as part of the invasion force of Italy. In December 1943, the whole 1st Airborne Division returned to the UK. Training then commenced for the invasion of Europe.

John’s brother, Robert, was also a member of the Parachute Regiment but in a different battalion. Robert was killed in action on 06 June 1944 (D-Day).

In September 1944 , during OP ARNHEM, he was dropped into Holland with 2 Para, 4th Airborne Brigade, 1st Airborne Division. The aim was to capture key bridges over the Rhine. John received a head wound during the action. The action lasted for nine days, during which time he became a prisoner of war (POW) during the withdrawal. John remained a POW in Germany for the remainder of the war – a period of eight months. As a POW, he worked in the German coal mines and local brickworks.

John and his new Wife Wynne were eventually posted to Aldershot with 2 Para, in 1947.  In 1948, they were posted to Husum in North Germany, for two years. John and Wynne now had a daughter – Susan. A posting to Cyprus on peacekeeping duties followed for 18 months. John, Wynne, Jenny and Susan all lived in the Turkish quarter in Cyprus, for a further two years. By this time John was a Company Sergeant Major (CSM) in 2 Para, and his Army career was coming to an end. He was posted to Catford, south of London as a Permanent Service Instructor (PSI) with 10 Para, a Territorial Battalion. After 24 years full-time Army service, John retired in 1963. However, this was not the complete story. He rejoined the TA (10 Para) as a Volunteer Reservist and became its CSM (Warrant Officer Class Two) of 1 Company, 10 Para until July 1966.

In October 1968, the Hately family became “Ten Pound POMS” and sailed out to Australia to join their daughter, Jenny. They built a house in Purley Street, Bayswater, where they lived for 25 years.

In Christmas 1968, the Pegasus Association (later AFAWA) was formed for former airborne forces members at a hall in South Perth. John was one its founding members. It was hard work and John served for many years as President, Secretary and general Committee member. John had remarked that “we made many many friends among the members of the Association.”

In August 1969, Lisa was the first of four grandchildren to be born. Susan then gave birth to Robyn, Rebecca and Michael.

John was a member of Returned Services League (RSL) Highgate. He attended their monthly functions and became its President. In later years, he was also a Warden at the State War Memorial, King’s Park. (The Highgate members of RSL ANZAC House supply the State Warden function).

John passed away in Perth, Western Australia, on 24 December 2015, aged 93. He is survived by his four grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He will be deeply missed and his memories will be cherished for many years to come.

A true airborne warrior and veteran.

• 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment
• 4th Airborne Brigade
• 1st Airborne Division
• founder member of the Pegasus Association WA in 1968, now known as Airborne Forces Association (WA)
• member and past President of Highgate RSL
• Warden of the War Memorial, King’s Park
• life-long veteran friend of Colonel John Waddie, OBE, Parachute Regiment Regimental Colonel

I can’t hold back the minutes, they fly by much too fast.
I can’t postpone the future, nor yet retrieve the past.
But one thing I can do to make the present shine,
Is polish up the here and now, for that’s forever mine!

Extract from “Song of Myself” in Leaves of Grass, Walt Whitman, 1881 edition.