General Service Medal QEIIR clasps Radfan, Northern Ireland (23896366 PTE R. JARRETT. PARA.); South Atlantic Medal with rosette (23896366 SGT R G JARRETT PARA); Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal QEIIR bar Regular Army (23896366 CPL R G JARRETT PARA) - sold with a quantity of original and copied documentation and photos, including his original Territorial Army and Reservist Instruction Book (Personal Documentation) and a JSFTT SAS RAF PARA 1971 cloth badge and a dossier of research including emailed correspondence between the recipient and the purchaser of the medal group.
Bob Jarrett was born in Paddington, London in 1943. He enlisted in the Parachute Regiment in London in January 1962 and, after completing his training at Aldershot, was posted to 3 Para where he joined the MMG platoon, Support Company which still used the Vickers .303 medium machine gun at that time. In March 1964 he was posted to Bahrain for a year. In April he was sent to Aden from where his regiment travelled north into the Radfan Mountains to quell a rebellion by the Quteibi tribe. For this action he was awarded the GSM with Radfan clasp.
In April 1965 he served with the battalion in British Guyana in an internal security role prior to the country's independence. Between 1968-1971 he served as a demonstration parachutist with the famous Parachute Regiment Free Fall Team, the "Red Devils". By this time he was a Corporal. He served a tour in Northern Ireland in 1969 with 1 Para - this was during the winter layoff from skydiving demonstrations and displays. He is in receipt parachute wings from the USA, France and Norway.
Between 1971-75 he served as a test parachutist with the Joint Services Free Falls Trial Team (JSFFTT) at the Joint Air Transport Establishment. This team consisted of representatives from the SA, Parachute Regiment and the RAF. The teams task was to carry out trials and test all types of parachuting methods and associated equipment. Whilst with the team he jumped from 35 000 feet and as low as 350 feet. He was promoted to Sergeant whilst with the team.
Between 1975-1983 he returned to 3 Para after a long absence and was demoted to Corporal due to over establishment but was promoted again within 18 months. Whilst with 3 Para he served in Germany where he was awarded his LSGCM by HRH Prince Charles. He served 3 more tours in Northern Ireland with his service with 3 Para culminating with the Falklands Island conflict. His specific role in this conflict was that of landing site commander (helicopters) for the Battalion. He was awarded the South Atlantic Medal with rosette for this operation.
Between 1983-84 he returned to the JSFFTT for his last year of service. During which time he was sent to Kenya with A Squadron 22 SAS. The Kenyan Air Force had attempted to overthrow the government. He took his discharge from the army on 4 January 1984 but was offered an extention of service for a further three years.
On discharge his OC wrote:
"Sergeant Jarrett is a very well qualified parachutist who has completed his final tour of army service with a trials and development unit. He is a reliable, fit and competent soldier whose enthusiastic, willing manner have made him a well respected senior non-commissioned officer. His relaxed but firm supervisory skills and his ingenuity and determination to succeed will be an asset to a future employer. As a fluent Norwegian speaker with the ability to turn his hand to any task he will be sadly missed by the army."
Jarrett moved to Spain where he was living in the 2000's.
Medals are in good condition unless otherwise indicated.
