SAS hero Harry meets old comrades

SAS veteran Capt Harry Boddington (left) with his brother-in-law Harry Wrigley

ONE of the first members of the SAS, Oldham-born Harry Boddington, is back from a military event which reunited him with his former comrades.

The former special forces soldier spent the week in Clough Orchard, Grasscroft, home of his brother-in-law, Harry Wrigley, who he invited as his guest to the regimental reunion in Hereford.

Captain Boddington (88), had intended to make the journey from his adopted home in Edmonton, Canada, with his wife, Brenda, but she died before they could make the trip.

So he asked his wife’s brother to go in her place and the pair, who are both ex-servicemen, travelled together to meet other war heroes.

The reunion marked the 70th anniversary of the founding of the SAS and all special forces, and was attended exclusively by soldiers from the SAS and its allied units during the Second World War, and their guests.

The pair met Royal couple William and Kate at the event. “We spent about 15 minutes talking to them about our experiences,” said Mr Wrigley.

The brothers-in-law both joined the forces as soon as they could — Capt Boddington the Army, and Mr Wrigley the Navy.

“We both volunteered as kids at 17, although we shouldn’t have joined up until we were 18,” said Mr Wrigley (84).

“They weren’t particular about age in those days,” added his brother-in-law. “Dunkirk had just happened and they were short.”

It was three years later, when Capt Boddington was serving in Italy with the Lancashire Fusiliers, that he volunteered to join the Raiding Support Regiment.

It was one of many special service units formed during the World War II, and was an offshoot of the SAS (Special Air Service).

He was just 20, and after undergoing rigorous training in Italy, spent the rest of the war supporting freedom fighters and allied supporters in Yugoslavia.

“We took part in their raids, supporting any organisation that was fighting for the allies or for national freedom,” he said.

Asked about the dangers when he said his unit carried heavy 75mm gun howitzers, suited to mountain warfare, he said: “Well, it had its moments.”

Capt Boddington was demobbed in 1947, and was awarded a raft of wartime medals including the African Star, the Italian Star, two Yugoslav medals, and Partisan Cross and the Canadian Forces Declaration.

He came back to Oldham, where he lived with his family.

He and his wife then emigrated to Canada in 1953, where he worked as an engineer and also served in the Canadian militia.

The couple had a son and daughter. Captain Boddington, who last came to Oldham seven years ago, was due to fly home to Canada today.