John Marshall-Redding will be a familiar name to a good percentage of our readers, the name is synonymous with true local gentleman and the Ukulele club having been a member for over a decade. During the lockdowns anyone who is lucky enough to have John as a friend on social media would have been treated to some ukulele performances that went a long way in lifting the mood. This article though as you may have deduced from the title isn’t about a musical instrument but testament to a family member.
John Marshall-Redding has written a book, Memoirs of a true warrior, about his much-admired Uncle William James Bloys, or to Uncle Bill to him. An incredible character and one with a story that is cinematic. As a paratrooper Bill saw it all Bill’s war reads like a roll call of Regimental battle honours – Tamera in North Africa, Primosole Bridge in Sicily, Italy, Arnhem. One of Churchill’s 5000 for whom he called in a famous memorandum on 22 June 1940. Bill was a man who could truly say, ‘I was there.’
There are undoubtedly a few silver linings to the last fifteen months of our lives and the various lockdowns and one for John has been being able to pen this incredible book. “I always said I would write a book one day. The lockdown inspired me to use my time and get something going. Uncle Bill was the perfect choice, he had many stories to tell, over a whiskey! He was a great character and always had time for me. Sadly he passed in 2014”.
Speaking to John Marshall-Redding who tells CommunityAd the book was a passion project that a year in the making “and was only possible with help from my family and friends”. Noting the high praise and compliments the book has received online to John he modestly distracts from that instead pointing to his amazement “that Lt Gen Sir John Lorimer KCB DSO MBE Colonel Commandant, The Parachute Regiment Chairman wrote the forward to the book” as well as reminding us that all profits go to the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Charity, Support our Paras.
The book acts as a fitting tribute to a family member, a war hero and someone who was part of shaping our world today John adds “It is vital that we remember those that went before, they knew what they had to do ‘For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today’”. The books tone aims to replicate how john first heard those stories over a glass of whiskey and is proud to say that “it will feel like you are sitting in the pub with Bill, having a chat. It is of historic interest and has been well received by The Parachute Regiment”.
When asked if another book is in the pipeline, one about his own life perhaps John teases us with his answer of “I keep being asked to write one on my life, I’m not sure I could print some of it! Who knows maybe one day”?
The brilliant Birchington Framing and Gallery Centre will be home to a book signing on the 29th May and will be stocking the book Memoirs of a True Warrior.
“His story is told here in the unmistakably authentic voice of the private soldier”. Lt Gen Sir John Lorimer KCB DSO MBE Colonel Commandant, The Parachute Regiment Chairman.
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