[John de Mansfield Absolon, died peacefully at home, Friday 29 Oct '04. Messages from site members can be found in http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/F122485?thread=515763]
Brief history
Joined 31st S/L Batn 1/6/38 on 15fh birthday
Served with 324 S/L Bty
123LAA Regt RA
25th LAA Regt 50 Div Normandy
11th Indian LAA Regt RI Arty Burma
624 LAA Regt RA TA
Kent Sussex and South Coast 39 to end 42 in LAA
Normandy as Troop Officer LAA
Troop Comdr and Bty Comdr LAA Arakan Burma
My unit was operational from 3rd September 1939 in south-east England Manning Searchlights I was second-in-command of various sites in that area.In 1940 we were due to relieve 1st S/L Regiment inland from Calais nobody noticed I was included,as you may know we didn't go.The 1st was taken prisoner except for 15 men and 1 officer. My war continued through the Battle of Britain and the south coast rising to the rank of Sergeant at 17 and a gun commander, in commissioned in 43 I did the Normandy landings with 50 Div after a month in hospital went to Burma commanding a LAA Battery of the Indian Artillery. I rejoined the TA after the war until 1961
As you can see I packed a lot into about six or seven years.
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