Private E Strudwick enlisted into the Somerset Light Infantry and was serving with 10th Battalion, SLI, when it was turned over to airborne duties in 1942, to become 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion.
He was initially on parachute training course 52 until being hospitalised on 3 March 1943 with influenza. Later he completed his training during course 54 which ran at RAF Ringway from 6 to 20 March 1943 and served in A Company. Pte Strudwick’s final course report states: ‘Very good – a keen hard working type.’
Pte Strudwick also served in HQ Coy and is mentioned in ’The dash from the River Weser to the River Leine April 1945’ by Lt Col R G Pine-Coffin.
by Wendy George
