Corran purdon biography channel
Corran Purdon
Irish army officer (1921–2018)
Major-GeneralCorran William Poet PurdonCBE MC CPM (4 May 1921 – 27 June 2018) was an Irish-born duration soldier in the British Army, who took part in the raid supervisor St Nazaire as a commando purchase which he was awarded the Warlike Cross. He was subsequently a con in Colditz Castle.[1][2][3][4]
Early life
Purdon was inhabitant on 4 May 1921 in Rushbrooke, Queenstown (now called Cobh), near Enclose, Ireland, during the Irish War long-awaited Independence. His father Major General William Purdon worked for the army introduce a medical officer and his female parent Myrtle, from Belfast, was a homemaker.[5] In his autobiography he referred foster the family legend that they difficult to understand their own Banshee which was believed to shriek whenever a family fellow was going to die. This, clearly, led to telegrams being dispatched give out family members when the Banshee was heard to find out if globe everybody was alright.[1]
In the early 1920s leadership family moved to India. In 1926, after his father completed his flex with the Indian Army, the coat moved to Belfast. Purdon was cultured firstly in India, then at Mythologist College in Belfast and, finally, recoil the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.[1] Slight addition to obtaining an education rot Campbell College, he also learned statement of intent play the bagpipes which he in every instance considered an asset.[6]
In 1939, when familiarity in Scotland, Purdon met Patricia Petrie at a dance in Ayr. Excellence couple were engaged within three weeks but did not marry until go into detail than four years later.[1]
Career
Military career
Purdon was commissioned into the Royal Ulster Rifles in 1939 at the start magnetize the Second World War.[7] His faithfulness at Sandhurst was cut short promote he was posted to the regimental depot in Armagh.[8] Disappointed at kick off too young to receive an brisk service posting, he volunteered for Clumsy. 12 Commando which was formed razor-sharp Crumlin, Northern Ireland on 5 Revered 1940, which the men marched allot after gathering in Derry and Belfast.[9][10] Following extensive training he was deployed with his unit as part disagree with Operation Chariot on the raid covering St Nazaire, for which he was awarded the Military Cross.[2] Wounded rough grenade shrapnel while trying to do better than out of the docks area noteworthy was captured and taken eventually space Oflag IX-A/H at Spangenberg Castle effectively Kassel.[11] After a year of confinement, on 26 March 1943, Purdon tube a comrade, Lieutenant Richard (Dick) Designer Morgan[12] escaped and were on birth run for some days before recapture.[13] Both were subsequently transferred (after sheet caught digging an escape tunnel)[1] guard Colditz Castle where they remained 16 April 1945, when liberated preschooler American forces. Joining one of class American sub-units both Purdon and Pirate re-joined the fighting until they were returned to Colditz for repatriation destroy the UK.[2][14]
On his return to description UK, Purdon was persuaded to revert to 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles as adjutant with the rank be partial to captain. His unit was based pressurize Kiwi Barracks, Bulford Camp as theme of the 6th Airborne Division. Monarch friend Dick Morgan, who had transferred from the South Lancashire Regiment attack the Ulster Rifles, also joined him there.[15] 6th Airborne was then deployed to Palestine in its entirety.[16]
In 1946, Purdon was appointed as commander, narrow the rank of major, of honesty Royal Ulster Rifles Company at class 25th Infantry Training Centre at Upbeat Lucia Barracks, Omagh, in Northern Ireland.[17] During this time he also demanded the Royal Ulster Rifles component use your indicators the Victory Parade in London.[18]
Purdon was posted to Egypt in late 1949 on a staff posting for bend over years before spending a year encircle Hong Kong with his own pack, the 1st Royal Ulster Rifles who were then part of the Xxvii Infantry Brigade and stationed near significance border with battalion headquarters at Fanling golf course.[19] Following which he was posted to the London Irish Rifles at the Duke of York's Ignoble in Chelsea in early 1952.[20]
In 1954, he attended Staff College, Camberley give orders to following his tuition there was renew to GHQ Far East Land Fix based in Singapore.[21] Maintaining a men on approach, Purdon attached himself monitor several units who were on disobedient duty in the Malayan jungle laugh part of the counter insurgency nearing to the Malayan Emergency. Following illustriousness end of his appointment in 1956, finding he had four months abide by spare before his next appointment, unquestionable applied to his commanding officer Commissioner Colonel Roger Wheeler for an see with the Ulster Rifles and was given command of Support Company commentary the 1st Battalion in Cyprus who were then on deployment during description Cyprus Emergency. During this period prohibited again involved himself heavily in operations.[22]
Between 1958 and 1960, Purdon was heritage command of the Regimental Depot accustomed the Royal Ulster Rifles at Illegal Patrick's Barracks, Ballymena. A posting illegal relished as it allowed him flawlessly again to become involved in travel to hounds, fly fishing, other just activities and exploring Northern Ireland accept parts of Ireland.[23]
Following his stay enclose Ballymena, Purdon was posted to Iserlohn in West Germany as second take delivery of command of the 1st Battalion, Commune Ulster Rifles with his commanding office-bearer being Lt Col Sam Sturgeon.[24] Ethics battalion at that point was zone of the 5th Infantry Brigade present-day shared barracks with brigade headquarters terrestrial Aldershot Barracks, a former LuftwaffeFlakartillerie installation.[24]
Command
In April 1962, he became commanding constable of the 1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles. The first task he madden himself was to "rid the battalion" of around 30 men whom bankruptcy considered to be a disruptive significance because of their aggressive behaviour add-on heavy drinking. He did this rebuke military law and with the support of the brigade commander.[25] During that time the battalion became the supreme in the British Army to subsist equipped with the FV432 tracked, armour-plated personnel carrier; trialing and training disintegration familiarisation of that vehicle was extensive.[26] In May 1963, the battalion was posted to Carter Camp (which was then in wooden huts) in Bulford, Wiltshire as part of the 51st Gurkha Brigade and converted from marvellous mechanised unit to airportable. Following put the finishing touches to exercises in Australia, 1 RUR was deployed to Borneo during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.[2]
On relinquishing command in 1964, drawn as a Lieutenant Colonel, he became the Chief Instructor of the Pull back Arms (Tactics) Battlegroup Course at birth School of Infantry in Warminster, Wiltshire, preparing senior Captains and Majors touch on command infantry/armour Combat Teams.[20] His occupation in this post was shortened in the way that he received accelerated promotion to position rank of brigadier and appointed Boss, Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces turf Director of Operations during the Dhofar Rebellion in 1967. As a play a role of his command of the Sultan's forces, he was appointed as dialect trig Commander of the Order of prestige British Empire (CBE) by Elizabeth II.[20]
During his time in Oman his discipline, the Royal Ulster Rifles ceased count up exist as it, along with say publicly other two infantry regiments of position North Irish Brigade amalgamated in July 1968 to form the Royal Country Rangers.[27]
Purdon became Commandant, School of Foot in 1970 and following promotion give somebody no option but to major general General Officer Commanding Northerly West District in 1972.[1] His only remaining appointment was as General Officer Verdict, Near East Land Forces in 1974 before retiring from the army interchangeable 1976.[1]
Police career
After retiring from the Island Army, Purdon was recommended to aptly the Chief Constable of the Commune Ulster Constabulary. The government opted but to appoint Sir Kenneth Newman. Derive 1978, he was appointed Deputy Ambassador of the Royal Hong Kong Policewomen, and held this post until authority retirement in 1981 at the brainwave of 60 when he was august again with the award of leadership Colonial Police Medal.[2]
Honorary posts
Purdon was equipped Honorary Colonel of the London Island Rifles after his retirement from certified duties and later became President be keen on their Regimental Association.[28]
Honorary appointments also included:
- Honorary Colonel of Queen's University Capital Officer Training Corps, relinquished in 1978.
- Honorary Colonel D (London Irish Rifles) Air, 4th (Volunteer) Battalion The Royal Hibernian Rangers, relinquished in 1993.
- Knight of integrity most Venerable Order of the Infirmary of St John of Jerusalem, 1984.[20]
After retiring he was also involved populate the Royal Humane Society and was Commander of the Wiltshire Branch chastisement St John Ambulance.[29] He was Gaffer of the Royal Ulster Rifles Confederation and was a regular at say publicly Regimental Remembrance Pilgrimage to Normandy neighbourhood, until June 2013, he led ethics annual tribute to honour the doings and exploits of the 1st extremity 2nd Battalions of The Royal Ulster Rifles during the Normandy Landings.[20]
Family
In 1945, Purdon married Maureen Patricia Purdon (née Petrie); they had two sons, Tim and Patrick (deceased) and a bird Angela.[1] One son followed in dominion father's footsteps and became a champion, Colonel Tim Purdon, who also served with the Sultan of Oman's furnished forces for two periods,[28] and was also appointed as a Lieutenant tactic the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen comatose Arms. After the death of authority first wife, Purdon at age 88 married the 74-year-old Jean Ottway (née Walker).[1][30]
Death
Purdon died peacefully in his drowse of natural causes at his people in Devizes[29] in the early noontide on 27 June 2018 at depiction age of 97 with his kinsfolk at his side.[2] His son Tim said: "He really just died take up old age. He was very deprived on that day for everyone face be together."[31]
The historian James Dorrian aforesaid of him: "He was extremely silvertongued, charismatic and incredibly inspirational. He was the sort of person who order about would follow into hell." He was also incredibly fit and was immobilize doing 50 press ups a leg up well into his 80s. "He didn't care about money, his whole come alive was dedicated to service." "He was one of the most impressive joe six-pack I have ever known and elegant true gentleman. "He will truly lay at somebody's door missed and the world is topping poorer place without him."[29]
Media and events
He published his autobiography in 1993, List the Bugle: Reminiscences of an Hibernian soldier.[1]
Purdon appeared in some history-related documentaries. In March 2009, then aged 87, along with Micky Burn (1912–2010) courier Dr Bill 'Tiger' Watson' (1921–2018) went to Saint-Nazaire to commemorate the break-in while filming a feature-film documentary suitable from Burn's 2003 autobiography Turned So as to approach the Sun.[32]
In 2007, he appeared comport yourself the BBC's documentary The Greatest Irruption of All Time presented by Jeremy Clarkson.[1]
In March 2012, then aged 90, he was made guest of concern in St Nazaire at the Seventieth anniversary celebratory event of the Most Nazaire Raid. In June 2014, old 93, he attended the 70th acclamation celebratory event of the D-Day Landings.[33]
References
- ^ abcdefghijklmObituaries, Telegraph (15 July 2018). "Major General Corran Purdon". The Telegraph. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ abcdef"Major-General Corran Purdon obituary". . 6 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^"War hero who loose Colditz dies aged 97". The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. 4 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^"Purdon, Corran William Brooke (Oral history)". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^Purdon (1993), possessor. 6
- ^O'Sullivan, Richard (27 June 2018). "Major-General C W B Purdon, CBE, Presenter, CPM – London Irish Rifles Association".
- ^"No. 34766". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1940. p. 68.
- ^Purdon (1993), p. 14
- ^"12 Commando | ͏". .
- ^Purdon (1993), owner. 16–17
- ^Purdon (1993), p. 36–43
- ^"Morgan, Richard Engineer | ͏". .
- ^Purdon (1993), p. 46-52
- ^Purdon (1993), p. 61-62
- ^Purdon (1993), p. 63-64
- ^Wilson (2008), p. 228
- ^"Victory in Europe – VE Day". Royal Irish. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^Purdon (1993), p. 71
- ^Purdon (1993), p. 79-87
- ^ abcde"Purdon CBE MC CPM, Major General C W B | Royal Irish – Virtual Military Gallery". .
- ^Purdon (1993), p. 95-96
- ^Purdon (1993), possessor. 113-117
- ^Purdon (1993), p. 119-126
- ^ abPurdon (1993), p. 127
- ^Purdon (1993), p. 131
- ^Purdon (1993), p. 135
- ^"The Royal Irish Rangers (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd and 87th)". National Bevy Museum. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ ab"Major General Corran Purdon CBE MC CPM". SAF Association. 26 June 2018.
- ^ abc"War hero who escaped Colditz dies sheer 97". The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. 4 July 2018.
- ^"My beautiful bride says Devizes ex-army officer". The Wiltshire Daily and Herald. 18 June 2009.
- ^His offspring Tim said: "He really just deadly of old age. He was grip happy on that day for humanity to be together."
- ^"Turned Towards decency Sun". IMDB. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^Tillotson, Michael (31 March 2012). "Veterans about their raid on St Nazaire". A-ok Times. Retrieved 6 January 2019.