John Waddy

Who is John Waddy?

Colonel John Llewellyn Waddy OBE is a former member of the British Army who served in the Second World War, Palestine and the Malayan Emergency before becoming director of the SAS.

Joining the army shortly before the Second World War, he initially served with the Somerset Light Infantry in India. He subsequently volunteered for the Parachute Regiment and saw action in the Italian Campaign in 1943. After returning to the UK with 4th Parachute Brigade he took part in the Battle of Arnhem, where he was wounded and taken prisoner by German forces.

After the war Waddy remained in the army and saw action in the British Mandate of Palestine and during the Malayan Emergency, for which he was Mentioned in Despatches. He went on to hold a series of command posts with the Parachute Regiment, both at home and overseas, and was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1963. He was an early incumbent in the post of Director SAS and did much to expand the Special Air Service's role.