By Isle of Wight Observer
The Island’s Parachute Regiment Association (PRA) paid tribute, on Tuesday, to former comrade Peter Stephen Grundy, who was killed in a booby trap in Northern Island in 1979.
Pte Grundy was born in Ryde, in 1958, and enlisted in 1979. He completed his training at the Depot, in Aldershot, as the Champion SLR Shot of 453 Platoon. Most of the 23 soldiers, who successfully passed out in June, 1979, were posted to 2 Para in Northern Ireland.
Peter was posted to 3 Platoon A Coy 2 Para. He narrowly escaped death at the Warrenpoint bombing in August 1979, when 18 members of 2 Para were killed, by transferring, at the last moment from the vehicle hit by the first blast to a Land Rover, which was less exposed to the explosion.
However, he was killed a few months later by a booby trap bomb in remote farmhouse near Tullydonnel, Forkhill.
He died on December 16, 1979, aged 21, and is now buried at Ryde Old Parish Cemetery.
The group also remembered another colleague, Michael Brand Lee, of 2 Para, who died on August 20, 1992, whose father lived on the Island for a time. The ceremony was led by Rev David Morgan.
The IW branch of the PRA meets on the last Thursday of every month at the Ryde Castle, 7.30pm. All airborne or parachute-related servicemen are welcome to join.
Mal Butler