Ex-soldier celebrates birthday with veterans

Former soldier Norman Paramor was surrounded by fellow veterans when he was treated to a surprise birthday celebration recently.

Norman was presented with a birthday cake and rousing chorus of Happy Birthday at the Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast and Banter Club in Tavistock on Tuesday, September 1.

The former South West area wholesale clothing salesman said: “It’s really lovely for everyone to remember my birthday. You don’t expect it at my advanced age, which makes it even more of a surprise.”

Norman was a soldier in a mortar unit with what was then the Dorset Regiment during the Korean War in the early 1950s, serving in Hong Kong (six months deployed), Japan (three months) and Korea (12 months).

He laid a wreath for the Royal British Legion at the Tavistock War Memorial in July to mark the sacrifice of Korean War troops.

He was a corporal during his National Service and remembers his 1950s service in East Asia with sadness for fallen colleagues and moments of high intensity gunnery action.

“I served with number one mortar and while I stayed with the guys and the mortar behind the hill, the officer climbed to the top to give us a range for the Japanese or Korean targets. He took the risk of giving away our location and being shot. Immediately we fired of course, we were detected. Then we came under fire, which was very scary, especially if we didn’t knock them out them first.”

The Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast and Banter Club gives former and current uniformed personnel the chance to meet up, both to reduce social isolation and enjoy the camaraderie of sharing their experiences of combat and military life, which contrasts greatly with ‘civilian’ life.

Former and serving Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force service and emergency services men and women gather at the TASS HQ (Tavistock Area Support Services) at the Anchorage Centre in Chapel Street, Tavistock three times a month. For further details call 01822 616958 or [email protected]