Mr Frederick Arthur Caldwell
11 May 1924 - 27 January 2013
In loving memory of Frederick
At the age of only 20 and on his first major mission of active service in the Second World War, Fred Caldwell was dropped into enemy-occupied France as a member of the First Special Airforce Service (SAS) for Operation Houndsworth. The mission’s objective was to disrupt German lines of communication and prevent the enemy from moving up to Normandy. “We did this by means of ambush on the main convoy routes to the front and the use of gun cotton charges and plastic explosive to blow railway lines” – Fred recalled many years later.
Although Fred’s war career was prolific and took him all over Europe, he spoke little of his wartime experiences except on Remembrance Day when he recalled his fallen comrades. Fred spent seven years with the Army and always retained great affection and outmost respect for the Armed Forces. In 2011 the Regiment arranged a special transportation for Fred, who was on kidney dialysis at the time, to have his photo taken to mark the 70th anniversary of the SAS.
In 1950 Fred joined the Fire Service and according to his wife June ‘loved every day of his 30-year service’. Fred’s Regiment motto was ‘who dares wins’ and he remained true to it throughout his life. He is remembered lovingly by his wife June who describes her life with him as “full of love, fun and laughter. Every day was onwards and upwards”.
Fred Caldwell, WWII veteran, 1st SAS, supporter of Royal Star and Garter.