Private Mark S Dodsworth

Mark Steven Dodsworth was from Walsall and joined the Junior Leaders Regiment at Shorncliffe, Folkestone, straight from school.

Upon reaching the age of 17, he joined The 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (3 PARA).  As the Battalion was deployed in Northern Ireland, and Mark was not yet 18, he was sent to Melton Mowbray to train with the Army Dog Unit and was finally sent to Northern Ireland on his 18th birthday.  Stationed at Long Kesh Prison with the Dog Unit, Mark later trained with Sniffer Dogs, before being recalled to the Battalion in 1981.

Private Dodsworth died during the Battle for Mount Longdon on 12 June 1982, aged 24 years. He is now buried at St Peter's Church, Stafford Street, Walsall. 

There is a tree planted in his memory in Port Stanley. Bryan and Carol, Mark's parents, went to visit in 2010. From the local Wolverhampton paper in 2010:

"The family, from Coalpool in Walsall, will also lay a plaque next to a tree planted in his memory at the capital, Stanley. Trees were planted by townsfolk to remember each person killed in the conflict."

Mark's father, Bryan, also served in 3 PARA and fought in the EOKA Campaign in Cyprus.