Local Face: David Morgan

David Morgan bought a new house in The Paddocks the 1970s and he is still living there even though he is now long retired and looking forward to his 100th birthday on Monday 13 February. Congratulations!

David was born in Sheffield, the youngest of 7 children and volunteered to join the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in 1941 as he turned 18. Initial training took place at Strensall and, after over a year, aptitude tests reassigned him to the Royal Signals in Northern Ireland where he was taught to be a specialist track driver for cable laying. From there he applied for the Parachute Regiment – their training was near Chesterfield in Derbyshire, and 8 jumps were needed to qualify. The Royal Signals Parachute First Division had just returned from North Africa and was set to prepare for “The Invasion”. A month later he was Returned to Unit at Catterick only to be sent to Portsmouth after another month then on to a small signals unit attached to the Americans which meant better rations and lots of sport including baseball, basketball and football.

They set off for Utah Beach on D+5 and crossed the Channel but stormy weather meant they couldn’t land their heavy vehicles from the American Liberty Ships until D+7. They erected their aerials to communicate with the War Office but that job was done once the Americans reached Cherbourg. Next stop for David was the World War 1 French Fortress at Verdun and eventually hospitalisation in an American Hospital. He rejoined his unit and they crossed the Rhine at Bingen as the war ended. The single men like David regrouped at Minden but had to wait to be demobbed and there he met his wife Hildegard. This encouraged him to sign up with the Army in which he served 22 years including the Suez crisis in 1956. His last overseas posting was in Kenya and the last year of service saw him in Coulsdon, Surrey, as a Permanent Staff Instructor to the Territorials.

David took exams to enter the Civil Service on leaving the Army and was soon sent to the County Court in Bath where he worked in the Lord Chancellor’s Department. Promotion led to Aylesbury County Court. Living in Wendover, he became involved in the movement to build the swimming pool including organising fundraising walks. He was one of the original Early Birds, swimming from 6.30am in an outdoor unheated pool. He spotted a vacancy to work in Courts Martial in Germany and applied for the role. Hildegard was happily working as a German language assistant at Aylesbury Grammar School by then and didn’t want to return to her home country but she found language work with the education corps in Germany so she was reconciled. David loved the access to sports facilities at HQ Army of the Rhine, including sailing and wind surfing. They bought a holiday cabin near Baden Baden in the Black Forest but after 11 years, retirement beckoned and they returned to The Paddocks but continued to holiday in their cabin. Unfortunately, Hildegard died but their Black Forest cabin neighbour Ursula became David’s second wife until she, too, died in 2010.

Back in the UK, David took up Art at Queen’s Park Centre and Golf at Ivinghoe. He was “discovered” by Aces High and has recently become a “signer” at their veteran weekends. He finds that meeting up with other veterans is very enjoyable and they are well looked after by Aces High.

David is pleased to have had his driving licence renewed recently as he would really miss his independence without a car, especially to play golf. He enjoys a good social life with friends in The Paddocks and has always found Wendover a very friendly place in which to live.

He is looking forward to his birthday party with friends in The Red Lion and will include some of his Yorkshire family making the trip down south.