Last October (2010), my good friend, (Sir) Harry Jury passed away.
I recently was informed by his wife.
Harry was too young to serve in WWII but experienced The Blitz as a youngster.
He was moved to the countryside (like so many other children) because of the Luftwaffe bombings of London.
In 1947 he entered the RAF and served till 1957.
He was a recon pilot, flying planes over the Malayan country when England fought yet another war.
He also joined the foot soldiers afterwards after getting some jungle warfare training.
One of the things he saw there was a bunker with the mummified corpses of Australian soldiers (apparently the Japs had them entombed there in WWII).
Later on, he was stationed at Tangmere, England and in charge of a large storage facility.
He was then a Corporal.
Harry was very active in the British Legion and also the 704th TD Bn Association.
He used to write really interesting stories (called "Jury's Jottings") in their magazines.
It is through the 704th TD Bn Association that we got in touch and started writing each other (before the internet and e-mail).
He visited us a couple of times, stayed in our home and together we toured the WWI battlefields in the Flanders and also the Ardennes.
It sure was a pleasure having him over which is one of the things I will miss the most.
It was a real shock to me and it still hurts a lot.
I truly lost a good friend, but I feel honored to have met him and to call him my friend.
I felt something was wrong as he always sent a Christmas card way earlier than Christmas.
This year, no card and no Birthday card ..... so it got me wondering ..... till I got a small letter from Mary (his wife) telling me the sad news.
With the permission of Marion I posted this as I wanted a lasting memory of my good friend here on the www.
Thank you, Marion.
Here's to you, Harry!
Erwin