"Born 3 April, 1915 Vernon John Bellis Silvester in Newtown, Powys, Wales. He grew up at 10 Chapel Street in Newtown.

He excelled as a boy soprano singer and at age 13 noted as the best boy soprano in Wales he was selected to sing under the conductor Sir Walford Davis at St Pauls Cathederal in London.

Shortly after being shipped off to London by his proud mum and dad Silvester, Great Grannie Bellis and Grandad and Grandma Bellis, his voice broke and he returned to Newtown.

At 18 years old he returned to London and joined the Royal Horse Guards working at Buckingham Palace and on Guard outside the palace. He would regale us with stories of how he worked at the Palace when Edward was king and told us of how the then King Edward would shout through the corridors "I will marry Mrs Simpson"....He was there when Edward abdicated and also later was a horse guard accompanying the funeral of King George V at Whitehall.

In the reserves, he was one of the first to be enlisted at the start of World War II and to his death at 70 in Northern New South Wales, Australia, his time in the Welch Regiment, figured importantly his life. His commission in the Welch regiment as follows:

1st Airborne Division, Welch Regiment. Silvester, Vernon John Bellis - 2nd Lt. 23.08.1941 [204917] WS/Lt. 01.10.1942 A/Capt. 22.07.1943 Hon. Capt. 1945/46 (reld) 23.08.1941 commissioned into The Welch Regiment [emergency commission] 30.03.1943 transferred to the Parachute Regiment (09.1944) Officer Commanding, HQ Company, 156th Parachute Battalion (Arnhem) Relinquished his commission on 4 Jan 1946.

He was mentioned in dispatches for his service in the Middle East and Arnhem.

He was reported Missing In Action by the War Office; My mother received many letters of condolences during these periods.

The story of his escape from the Germans in Scledemia is written in the footnotes on page 69 through 74 in The History Of The Welch Regiment 1919 - 1951.

Surrounded by German mobile forces south of Bengahazi, and compelled to surrender, with a bullet in his knee, he led a small party some 350 miles across the desert to safety.

His own written account as follows: (from footnotes page 69 through 74 in The History Of The Welch Regiment 1919 - 1951.)

'On Friday 30 January I was with a party commanded by Lt.-Colonel Napier, Commanding Officer of the ist Bn. The Welch Regiment, consisting of 5 other officers, Major Champion, Captain Evans, Lieutenant Wiltshire, Lieutenant Wagner and 2/Lieutenant Downer and 70 other ranks.

We had been lying since dawn among bushes in hilly country at approximately UMM ES SCECHANEB. Lt.-Colonel Napier had given orders that a roll call should be made and it was found that out of 150 other ranks who started from Sceledeima on z8th January only 70 remained.

We had marched from 1400 hrs. on 28th January until 0600 hrs. on the following day and again on the night of the 29th resting during the day, and the men were so fatigued and short of food that numbers of them fell down and it was impossible for them to carry on.

At 1200 hrs. on 3Oth January the Commanding Officer ordered an officers' conference and we were told he had received information from Arabs that Benghazi and El-Abiar had been captured and the Germans had advanced a considerable distance eastwards. He gave orders that the remainder of our party should be divided and the smaller parties should endeavour to reach British troops. This was obviously the only chance of getting food and escaping capture by the Germans.

At 1230 hrs. we were told by Arabs that we were surrounded by Germans and shortly afterwards two 3-ton British trucks with white crosses painted on the tarpaulin cover were seen coming towards us. Lt-Colonel Napier spoke to Major Champion and they walked to the trucks to investigate. While prepara¬tions were being made for surrender I said that I was going to make an attempt to escape.

Private Bardos, No. ME/3975974 of the Intelligence Section who had a good knowledge of the local language, and No. 3053608 Private Boome, offered to accompany me, so when Major Champion returned and ordered everyone to parade in the valley I asked permission to escape.

Major Champion said he didn't think I had the slightest chance particularly as I had been shot through the knee, but if I wished I could take the interpreter and one private soldier with me.

I spoke to the two soldiers and we crawled over the hill and hid under a tree one thousand yards away. I considered it would not be safe to move further, until night-fall.

During the afternoon German Infantry patrols searched the surrounding country but although they were close to us on several occasions we were not detected.

Before we moved we discussed our position and our chances of escape. We had called to passing Arabs and obtained information from them when possible and were told that there were large German forces around us and at El-Abiar but no-one knew how much farther East they had advanced. My summary of the situation was as follows:

Under the present circumstances we would march at night and hide during the day. Food was a problem but the Arabs appeared to be friendly and I thought we could purchase food from them when necessary.

I had a few pounds in my possession, enough to keep us in food for some time.

Our main object was to march as often and as quickly as possible, firstly because the Germans appeared to be advancing rapidly and secondly, my knee was very painful and I thought that in a few days I might be unable to walk.

My objective was Barce keeping as close to the road as possible so that we could identify transport. I had a compass and the Benghasi Map, and I knew that our route lay through fairly green, close "country which could afford us good cover.

We started at dusk, having had little food for three days, and, hearing dogs barking after walking for thirty minutes, I judged an Arab tent to be close and went forward with Private Bardos. and spoke to the Arabs, who immediately invited us inside and preparations were made for a meal. The Arab and his wife were very helpful and after feeding us, led us to the best track and pointed out the German positions.

I have never experienced anything like the hospitality of the Sennussi Arabs. Without their help we could not have escaped and their kindness was partly due to the treatment they had received from British troops previously and partly due to their religion. They hate the Italians, are frightened of the Germans and are definitely pro-British.

During the night of the 30th/31st we encountered German positions and on one occasion were noticed by two sentries, who appeared quite frightened and ran away.

We made a detour of the position and continued walking in the original direction. From 0700 hrs. we hid among the bushes. We were given food by Arabs and told that Barce had not been taken so we moved again at 1700 hrs. feeling in good spirits.

The night was uneventful, and at dawn next morning we were in fairly open country, a few miles from the main road South of Sidi Mahuis. I noticed a building which had been used as a British Hospital some distance away and we went forward to investigate. It appeared to have been evacuated hurriedly and gave me the-impression that British troops had been there the previous day.

We searched it and found two tins of bully beef and two gas capes. We found a covered resting place and no Germans were seen until the afternoon when we approached an Arab tent close to the road and bought a sheep. While we were eating, another Arab entered the tent and told the owner something which made him very frightened and obviously he wanted us to leave.

Evidently German transport had been seen on the main road and a few minutes later I noticed a German infantry patrol crossing a hill approximately 700 yards away. We didn't tell the Arabs but finished our food and quickly left. They say that Germans shoot them immediately if they are found sheltering British troops.

The information was still the same; Germans were in front of us but it was thought that Barce had not yet been taken. I decided that we must make every effort to reach Barce as soon as possible and we started again at 1800 hrs, walking with occasional halts until 1700 hrs. the following day.

We had no difficulty in obtaining food, Arab tents were plentiful, and we realised that although some were frightened of the Germans they could be trusted. I didn't think any of them considered betraying us. We ate at 0800 hrs. in the morning of the 2nd, 7 miles South of Barce, which we were disappointed to hear was occupied by the enemy. But it was believed British troops were still holding out at Tecnis so we set off again, keeping fairly close to the main road, there being plenty of cover, and I wished to observe the transport. We saw mostly supply trucks, some of which were captured British vehicles, and an occasional staff car.

On one occasion I followed an Arab, whom I saw moving across the road in a panic stricken manner, thinking he might have some information. He appeared terrified when he saw me and levelled his rifle.

I approached him saying " English " and when he eventually calmed down called for Private Bardos. We were told that his companion had been shot by Germans about a mile away and he was afraid of the same fate so we left him and continued on our journey.

I found that a feeling to fight against was that of being too comfortable. The Arabs gave one a sense of security and it was an effort at times to leave their tents and start walking again. My knee fortunately was no worse and I could walk fairly comfortably after the stiffness caused by resting had worn away.

An ointment put on the wound by Arabs appeared to have produced good results. We were told on approaching Tecnis that it also was held by Germans so we slept in a tent and set out the next day for Maraua.

Private Bardos by this time had become lame and had lost hope of reaching British troops. He was very friendly with the Arabs and we had difficulty in persuading him to carry on.

We heard bombing at Maraua that afternoon and were told that British 'planes had bombed a German position near but no British troops had been there for some days.

Derna seemed to be the nearest position of our troops so I decided to carry on in the same direction to make for Slonta and pick up any further information on the way. Private Bardos decided the next day he could go no further and nothing would persuade him to carry on.

He said he would stay with Arabs at Maruaua until the British made another advance. During the previous days he had behaved well and had proved himself most useful.

I very much doubt that he will attempt to walk to the British again, but he should be quite safe with the Arabs, has an excellent knowledge of Arabic and may be picked up by the L.R.D.G. I wrote down the Arabic translation of many useful words and Private Boome and myself set out for Slonta.

The following day we found a number of soldiers out of the Libyan Arab Force living as natives with the inhabitants of an Arab encampment. We met also a party of ten Arabs, soldiers in the Libyan Arab Force, commanded by a native 2/Lieutenant. We were in British uniform so did not join their party and, after discussing the situation, continued on our journey.

Later that day we met some Arabs, one of whom was unfriendly towards the English and appeared to have a liking for the Germans. That evening when we entered an Arab tent was the only occasion on which I placed my pistol beneath my head before sleeping.

It was my custom afterwards to take off my pistol belt immediately I entered a tent in appreciation of the Arabs kindness but there were large German Forces near and with unfriendly Arabs about 1 did not want to be caught unawares.

We were about 1,000 yards South of,Slonta and had been told that at Slonta there was German infantry and about 20 medium tanks. The following morning we heard that Derna had been taken so decided to make for Tobruk.

I did not possess the Derna Map but had knowledge of the country and the general direction and knew that there were Arabs living in the desert from whom we could purchase food. We had confidence in our ability to reach the British and decided that if Tobruk had fallen when we arrived-we would carry on from there.

An old Arab attached himself to us at one tent we visited on the next day and walked with us for a considerable distance. He proved most useful in finding Arab tents which were very scarce and difficult to find in the desert due to the way in which they make every use of the ground for concealment and natural camouflage.

We observed transport moving in the direction of Derna on the Derna-Mechili track and before we crossed the track I counted 19 German trucks. We lay in the scrub and were not noticed.

Later in the same day a German reconnaissance plane flew over us at a height of 50 feet and landed the other side of a hill. The pilot looked down at us but we had covered our bodies with blankets and having the old Arab with us must have given him the impression that we were three Arabs.

At dusk that evening we saw a large party of Arabs around a fire, and as I walked towards them they started shouting and one man picked up his rifle and fired at me, fortunately missing. When I said ' English' they surrounded us and seemed overwhelmingly pleased to see us. They had camels and all their possessions with them and had been turned out of their tents by Germans.

Many times during my walk I saw Arabs moving their tents because of the proximity of Germans. The Arabs in the desert disliked and feared the Germans more than the dwellers in the hills. They all carried rifles, either of German or Italian make-I did not see a single British rifle.

At this time I discovered there was another party of British soldiers one day ahead of us. After giving us food the Arabs usually produced pencil and paper and I wrote numerous notes stating that I had been well treated, giving the Arabs name and signing them. I came across those signed by the commander of the previous party, Sergeant Gill.

In one tent I visited, an Arab very proudly produced a reference signed by Sergeant Gill which read ' This Sennussi gave us food for cash. Not so hoT.' He treated Private Boorne and myself very well so I gave him a better character.

The general impression at this time was that the British had a strong position West of Tobruk so we felt that another few days would see the end of our journey.

On 9 February we met two Sennussi Arab soldiers. They were members of the Libyan Arab Force and had walked from Benghazi. They joined us, making a party of four and I found them to be excellent soldiers and good companions.

They were wearing their full equipment, carrying rifles and had walked the whole distance, carrying gym shoes. I discovered that they possessed excellent eyes, a fine sense of direction, were fearless and, could tell from a piece of donkey manure which way the donkey was going, at what time it had passed, and would follow it in some cases over ten miles to an Arab tent.

This was extremely useful under our present circumstances as the tents were very scarce and there was no water to be found.

There was a considerable number of German 'planes and one occasion I counted 36 Stukas but they were never low enough to trouble us.

On the evening of 10 February we arrived at some tents 100 yards West of the Mechili-Timimi track to find the Arabs expecting us-an Arab had travelled on a camel from the tents in which we slept the previous night and was waiting for us with information.

He told us that the British troops were about 20 miles away, and as we could see by the Verey lights they were sending up to signal to each other, the Germans were in laager quite close to us. We decided that we could reach the British on the night of the 11th and had a comfortable sleep.

During the next day there was considerable transport on the Mechili-Timimi track and the Germans were moving all around us. We were lying in a tent and at one time a blanket was suddenly thrown over us and I heard someone asking for Dakly (eggs). I realised what was happening and a few minutes later was told that two Germans had entered the tent to purchase eggs.

We made preparations for one night's walk and being the only one of the party in boots I decided they would make too much noise on the hard stony ground. Within two minutes the Arabs had produced a pair of size 10 Army issue gym shoes from an old sack. It was arranged that Arabs on camels should stay out with the sheep and as we passed give us information about the laager positions of the Germans.

We started at 1730 hrs. and had only covered 500 yards when we heard shouting, and a German column appeared led by an officer in a small open car.

There was scarcely any cover but he was too concerned in shouting to his column and failed to notice us lying down 50 yards away.

We carried on when they had passed and met the Arabs as arranged. The German positions were pointed out on both flanks and the direction of the British, We walked for four hours and then judged by their Verey Lights that we had passed the enemy positions. We halted and rested for the following reasons:

Walking in gym shoes was painful and the two Arabs had sore feet. We had to consider mine-fields around the British positions and I knew that our Mark II mine, which we were laying in many parts of the desert, exploded under a small pressure. We had more chance of discovering them in the day, and could also be more easily identified by British troops.

We had not shaved for 16 days and were not very presentable, so we rested until 0500 hrs., watching the anti-aircraft barrage over Tobruk about 50 miles away.

At 0730 hrs. on 12 February we saw troops in front of us and on advancing discovered they were Poles attached to the 1 South African Division 1 was admitted to hospital and later rejoined my unit. I estimated the distance we had walked as between 300 and 400 miles.'

After returning to his unit Vernon ("the Welshman") fought many boxing matches winning the light heavyweight champion of the British Army Title in 1942.

Following further action in The Middle East. Italy and Europe he transferred to the Parachute Regiment (09.1944) Officer Commanding, HQ Company, 156th Parachute Battalion and on September 15, 1944 he parachuted into the ill fated Arnhem and was captured by the Germans and taken prisoner of war at Offlag 79 in Arnhem.

There he remained incarcerated and starving until the end of the war when he was freed and returned to England and his wife Joan Marjorie (nee Robertson), his son Bill Harvey and his daughter, myself,, who unknown to him at the time was born on September 15, 1944 as he parachuted into Arnhem.

My mother, having just delivered me, was again notified that he was missing in action and it wasn't until six months later that she knew he was still alive and that he knew he had a daughter.

In 1946 he was offered an opportunity to become Assistant Sales Manager for Beecham if he moved to Perth Australia. He made the move with his wife and children to Australia and later became Sales Director of Beecham Australia. He was always called Jack in Australia.

He died at his home in Ocean Shores, Northern New South Wales, Australia on September 5, 1985. He is survived by his son Bill and daughter Ray Madeline and seven grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren.

His eldest grandson Barton Silvester is in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Travis Silvester is completing training to be a pilot with Qantas. Kirran Moss, grand daughter, daughters side at 15 was Australian under 16 national gold medal winner Shot Put and silver medalist Hammer Throwing and at 21 National NCAA champion1998 USA in Shotput.

Jessy Moss, grand daughter, singer songwriter of international acclaim, also training to be a pilot.

Article by Ray Madeline