War hero put others first right to the end

HERO . . . Jim Street

A GLIDER pilot who survived the horrific battle of Arnhem and became a well-known Oldham figure in supporting ex-servicemen has died.

Former chairman of the Parachute Regiment Association in Oldham, Jim Street, died on Sunday at Royley House Residential Home in Royton. He was 94.

The Second World War veteran took part in the doomed Arnhem operation in 1944, retold in the film, A Bridge Too Far.

Jim, who served with the Glider Pilot Regiment, featured in the Evening Chronicle in 2000 when he called for three comrades from Oldham who died in the ill-fated Operation Market Garden to be properly remembered.

He said that if it wasn’t for the heroic actions of the Air Dispatches, countless men, including himself, would have perished.

They were involved in the critical missions to resupply beleaguered front-line troops, desperately short of supplies, and had to make their approach through fierce anti-aircraft fire.

Despite one plane being hit twice and on fire, the pilot did two more passes with dispatches continuing to push out supplies, before the doomed Dakota plunged to the ground.

It took the lives of Oldhamers Cpl Philip Nixon, Pte Arthur Rowbotham and Pte Joe Robinson.

Jim had landed his glider and watched the horror. He once told the Chronicle: “I witnessed one of the most heroic attempts imaginable by the RAF to supply the 1st Airborne Division with things vitally necessary to prevent total annihilation.”

The pilot Flight Lieutenant David Lord was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

Jim called for the three Oldhamers to also be awarded a posthumous VC and wrote A Soliloquy for an Air Dispatcher in their memory.

In 2007, he paid for a memorial plaque to be displayed at Uppermill’s JW Buckley confectioners, where Pte Rowbotham worked.

After war service, Jim, who lived at Incline Road, Hollinwood, for 50 years before moving to Hopwood Court, Shaw, worked in textiles and then insurance.

He stood unsuccessfully to become an MP as an independent candidate in Oldham West in 1983.

He leaves his wife of 70 years Eunice, four children — Liz, Philip, Martin and Michael — six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Daughter Liz Fisher (50), of Chadderton, said: “He did a lot for other people. His friends in the armed forces have all said he was really well-respected and thought of. He’s a bit of a war hero but to us he’s our dad. He was a character my dad. What we will miss about him is his corny jokes.

“My dad would do anything for anyone. He’d put everyone before himself and thought the world of his grandchildren. He never moaned about anything. He was always appreciative of what other people did for him. He will be missed.”

Jim’s grandchildren described him as their hero and said he looked after them when they were little and was always smiling.

Jim was in the Territorial Army in his teens and joined the tank corps at the start of the Second World War, where he was based in Yorkshire before travelling to Sandhurst to train officers, and was then in the Glider Pilot Regiment throughout the war. Afterwards he served in India for 12 months before being demobbed.

He loved cars and drove into his 90s. The Latics fan also loved watching rugby and politics.

The funeral takes place on Monday with service and committal at Oldham Crematorium at 11.30am, family flowers only, donations in lieu if desired to the British Legion.