Trooper Stanley Watts was serving with the Royal House Guards when he responded to the notice in June 1940 requesting volunteers for parachute duties. He became one of the original members of No 2 Commando and commenced ground training on 8th July at Ringway. Unfortunately the first parachuting fatality occurred at Ringway on 25 July with the death of Driver Evans.
Parachute training was suspended while modifications were made to the parachute design by Raymond Quilter of the GQ Company and No 2 Commando resumed their jump training on 14 August. Although things went more smoothly they were not without incident and Trooper Watts became the 2nd parachuting fatality at Ringway barely a month after the 1st death.
Raymond Quilter was again promptly on scene to look at the cause which he pinpointed to a fault in the way the parachute was secured within the pack. A solution was developed on the same day and incorporated into the GQ production line within 2 days.
Trooper Evans is buried at North Sheen Cemetery in Surrey.
For more information see the extended history article on No 2 Commando.
Profile compiled for ParaData by Harvey Grenville
