Military
Service
Mark Holding: Army Number
24567994
Mark joined 144 Parachute Field Ambulance at Wigman Road in
Nottingham in the June of 1983, after a building up period for
P-Company he passed P-Company in September 1983. He then went on to
complete his Combat Medical Technician's course in April 1984. He
did exercises in the Aldershot training area, as well as Leek in
Staffordshire. He did medical cover on the ranges at Warcop, and
the DZs of the Isle of Man, and Thetford, where he took part in
exercise Brave Defender, which lasted over several days. He
qualified as Military Parachutist in July 1984. Soon after this he
did a three weeks exercise in Denmark in the September of
1984.
He joined 23 SAS in 1986, travelling the 100 miles round trip each
week to 23 SAS Headquarters for the next six years. While there he
qualified as a Special Forces Driver and obtained his Hazardous
Materials license. He also qualified as an Assault Pioneer around
1991, and as assistant NBC Instructor. Other training included;
Training in Combat Survival & Escape and Evasion, river
crossing, Neutralizing of enemy guard dogs, and unarmed combat
trained. Holder of a 1st degree black belt in the Japanese Karate
style of Wado Ryu and also studied Judo, JuJitsu and Aikido. He did
exercises in the UK, Germany and Denmark. His training led him to
use many kinds of foreign weapons and special
equipment.
He joined 16 detachment 4 PARA, based at Triumph Road, in
Nottingham in 1994, where he Became the battalion medic for the
detachment. These were the reconnaissance and sniper platoons, the
cream of the battalion, and were very good at what they did.
Formally, from the same heritage as 16 Company Pathfinders
(Lincoln).
Mark finished his time with 16 detachment in 1997 after family and
work commitments.
16 Detachment was disbanded during cut backs in 1999. The sniper
and recee platoons, were absorbed into 4 PARA, and 144 Parachute
Field Ambulance moved from Wigman Road, to Triumph Road TA centre,
where 16 Detachment had been. As such the Nottingham Branch of the
Parachute Regimental Association followed 144 PFA to Triumph Road,
moving once again to it's current location at the Royal British
Legion, Beeston in September 2009.
