Clifford 'Cliff' Joy served with Airborne Forces in the 1960s as part of The 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment (1 PARA) and later, 9 (Independent) Parachute Squadron RE.
Cliff initially enlisted on 2 November 1959 in Liverpool, joining the C Company, 3rd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets, part of the Rifle Brigade serving in the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) in Germany at the time.
In 1961, after two years with the Green Jackets, he transferred to Airborne service. Cliff completed P Company and his parachute training and was posted to 1 PARA, first with C Company, and then later with Support Company Anti-Tank Platoon. During three years, he served in Bahrain, Trucial Oman in 1962, and later to Cyprus in 1964.
Returning to the UK, he transferred once more, to join the Royal Engineers. His initial basic training at Blackdown Camp, Farnborough completed he remained in Airborne service as part of 9 (Independent) Parachute Squadron RE. From 1965 to 1968, he took part in operations in Radfan and South Arabia in 1965, and exercises to East and North Africa.
Following nine years service, Cliff was finally demobbed at Crookham, Aldershot on 2 November 1968 to embark upon a civilian career, before eventually emigrating to New Zealand.
Cliff has retained a strong link with the Airborne veterans community as a current member of the Airborne Engineers Association (AEA) in the UK, and the British Airborne Forces Association in New Zealand.
Profile under construction
by Cliff Joy
