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postponement of twenty four hours. This meant another comfortable night but most members of the battalion found it an odd sensation to lie in a peaceful bed knowing that the following night, at the same time, they would be descending behind the enemy lines on a parachute.

On the 5th June the battalion moved off, as arranged, and arrived at the halting camp in time for a hot midday meal. The next couple of hours or so were spent on the airfield itself where there was much to be done. Parachutes were drawn and harnesses adjusted carefully to fit over the equipment which would be worn, aircraft were examined and the pilots and aircrews met for the first time. These things are matters which cannot be hurried for obvious reasons and it was late afternoon before the battalion returned to their camp for as much sleep as could be fitted in.

Brigadier Poett visited the battalion during the evening and wont round chatting informally to anyone he found awake. His visit was immensely appreciated by everyone and the fact that while we slept he must have spent the whole afternoon and evening motoring round the various camps was freely commented upon. He had arranged to jump with the advanced party and would take off and jump thirty minutes before us. He could have had no rest himself all day. During his visit he was called upon to make a decision. Lieut Lewendon, commander of No 7 platoon, had developed a boil on his chest which, it was thought might be irritated by his parachute harness; should he be allowed to jump or should he be replaced. The Medical Officer, Capt A. Young RAMC, thought he might become an unnecessary casualty and should be replaced. Lewendon most emphatically thought otherwise but the Brigadier agreed with the MO and Lieut Parrish took Lewendon's place in the team.

At about 0700 hrs the sleepers were roused and a final search made of all pockets and wallets for envelopes or other indications of the unit identity. Few were found as everyone was very security conscious but those that were were duly burned. Another hot meal was followed by a short, but most impressive, service conducted by the battalion Padre, Capt G. Parry CF, one of the most popular officers of the battalion but who was so soon to lose his life.

After the service the CO made a final address to the battalion and at about 1100 hrs the column of vehicles moved off to the airfield. The column was a long one as each aircraft had a lorry to itself to avoid any possibility of muddle.

The mental attitude at this stage was interesting to note, there were no hysterically exaggerated high spirits, no wise cracking from lorry to lorry, as was usual in an exercise, there was a certain amount of singing, as there always will be but for the most part there was an atmosphere of quiet confidence not unmixed, let us admit it, with a certain amount of honest funk.

The afternoon’s preparations at the airfield reduced work to be done before take off to a minimum The time was spent mostly in smoking final cigarettes, drinking final cups of tea or putting camouflage paint on faces. This paint was carried in tubes, like toothpaste, and was of about the same consistency but dark brown in colour. It was found that on drying, which it did very quickly, it came off again in flakes so most abandoned it and used soot off the bottom of the tea kettles instead.

At about 2230 hrs the battalion was airborne in thirty three Stirlings The final met report suggested the possibility of a fairly strong wind over the DZ but otherwise the weather conditions should be good.