War veteran who holds Burma Star medal marks milestone birthday

Len Parry, believed to be the last remaining holder of the Burma Star medal in Yorkshire, served in the Royal Air Force and escaped from captivity by the Japanese forces.

Born in Burnley, Len left school aged 14 to work as an apprentice gas fitter.

He was originally assigned to the Royal Engineers in 1940, but his persistence saw him accepted for training as RAF ground crew.

After a stint repairing aircraft flight instruments, Len initially specialised on the Short Singapore Mk1A flying boats automatic pilot.

Motorists from Utley Car Show stopped by in a Morris Minor, Ford Zodiac and MG YB on Friday. Pictures: T&A

After several months of training, he was posted to 58S Squadron RAF, Linton-on-Ouse, and Seletar, in Singapore, where he joined the 205 Maritime Squadron RAF.

In April 1941 the squadron, at this time based in the Far East, converted to the consolidated PBV Catalina.

“The aircraft had a range of 3,000 miles and could remain in the air without refuelling for 23 hours, with additional fuel tanks they could do a ‘double sunrise’; being capable of staying in the air for an amazing 32 hours” he said.

After losing one of their aircraft to Japanese fights on the South China Sea, Len’s squadron faced daily air raids between December 1941 and February 1942.

Len joined VJ Day commemorations in Skipton this August. Picture: Lesley Tate

The 205 Squadron withdrew for Java, but Len’s ground crew stayed to repair a damaged Catalina.

Len’s ground and air crew were captured by a group of Japanese and left under the guard of two soldiers.

But when Singapore surrendered two days later, Japanese fighters got very drunk – marking a chance for the crews to escape on two Chinese sailing junks hidden in the mangrove swamps.

After two days they were picked up by a Dutch East Indies patrol boat.

Len’s ground crew served with the Dutch Air Force for three weeks before all the 205 personnel travelled by both train and sea to Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Leonard Parry, resident at Spring Bank Care Home in Silsden, is celebrating his 102nd birthday. Pictures: T&A

Eventually over 200 personnel from 205 Squadron would lose their lives before 1945.

Len can still recall the drunken joy across the nation during VE Day.

“That was a marvellous day,” Len said.  

In 1950, the World War Two veteran moved to Skipton with his wife Muriel and ran the town’s Radio Relay system.

The couple had three children - Nigel, Rosamund and Nicholas.

Len, a long standing member of the Craven Old Wheels Society, celebrated his milestone birthday at Springbank Care Home, Silsden.

Motorists from Utley Car Show stopped by in a Morris Minor, Ford Zodiac and MG YB on Friday.

Len pictured with his friend Betty McCormick with her MGYB from 1952. Pictures: T&A

It’s been a lifelong passion for Len, who had a white version of Bergerac’s red Triumph Roadster.

“It was absolutely superb,” Len said.

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