.My Father Joe McLaughlin, was one of the first recruits to the 4th Parachute Squadron RE  in 1943.  He had by then already served several years in the Middle East.

My Dad didn't talk much about his war and when he did I as a young man found his tales rather boring and very different to my life.  It was not until I reached my late twenties and had children of my own that I began to have an interest in what he was saying.

In 1982 I encouraged Dad to visit Arnhem and watching him walk around the Oosterbeek cemetery looking at the graves of his comrades and friends it brought home to me the sense of loss and grief he felt but kept inside. He was especially saddened to learn that one of his friends, Freddie Yates who was killed in the battle, had no known grave.

At about this time I went to live and work in Leicestershire near Glaston where the Squadron had been billeted prior to Arnhem.  On several occasions we went to the Three Horse Shoes pub house where 1 Troop had been billeted. I still did not understand the significance it had to Dad when we sat and had a drink there.

We managed another visit to Arnhem a few years later, but soon after that Dad became ill and passed away.  Having by then read many books on the battle of Arnhem I found few references to the 4th Parachute Squadron.  I had a desire to record the history of the unit but did not have the time or the resources.

In 2000 I had the opportunity to visit the Public Records Office in London and was fascinated by the information and detail in the records they held.  I realised then that I could obtain enough information to create the basic history of the unit and with the internet I could publish what I had created.  From this grew an ever expanding list of contacts and a meeting with another ex Squadron member Bill Grantham, who was also keen to see the history recorded. So began this story.

While I am pleased to see that the interest in the events of 1944 are as great as ever I have wanted to write more than just another account of the role of the unit at Arnhem.  I have tried to show how the Squadron was created, how the men trained, how they relaxed and how they had impatiently waited.

When I began the story I knew that it would be a large undertaking but always thought that it would have a final ending.  I am not so sure, I think there will always be something new to add or amend.

In April 2001 I was invited to attend the annual re-union of the Squadron at Uppingham near Glaston and have attended every year since. This has always produced more information, snippets and additions to the story.  I am proud to now be an honoury member of the Squadron.

One of the greatest senses of satisfaction I feel is being a conduit of information for the families and friends of the Squadron members. Many people have contacted me for information about the exploits of their Fathers, Brothers, Uncles and Grandfathers. Through this site I have been able to tell the story of men that might otherwise have gone untold. It has been possible to put families and ex squadron members in touch with one-another. It has helped them open a window on the life of a relative or loved one, while at the same time preserving a memory.

The research has been a journey for me too. I have learned much more about my Father, the war years, the men of the Squadron, the fun they they had, the fear they felt and the suffering they endured. I have made many friends through my work on this story, not just those that served in the Squadron but also others connected through similar research. This connection with others continues.

The members of the Squadron are now sadly slowly fading away, as old soldiers do. With my efforts I hope that the story of their brave endeavours never will.

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Steve McLaughlin is fifty-nine year's of age and worked for the Prison Service for over 35 years. He reached the rank of Principal Officer and received the Imperial Service Medal on retirement. He worked at Gartree high security prison in Leicestershire and Wayland prison in Norfolk.
For the last 15 years of his service he was a member of a specialist team that instructs riot training and trains staff  in physical restraint techniques. He had an operational role attending serious incidents at prisons throughout the country and has received many commendations for his work.
He now lives a much less busier life near Doncaster, UK.