Born in Bermuda on December 11,1924, Eugene Doughty left us on January 24, 2009. As a volunteer serving overseas, he had one of the most remarkable careers of any Bermudian during the second World War.

He was a born soldier. So much so, that he remained in military service by choice for a number of years after the War.

Gene (as we all knew him) had a military background. His father, the late William Gordon Doughty, was a civilian employed at the Military Garrison, Prospect. His mother, Maria Selena Hinton, was a high ranking officer in the Bermuda Salvation Army. Gene, therefore, grew up in a disciplinary atmosphere which indelibly shaped his future.

He received his education at the Garrison School, as did his sisters Joy and Irene, and brothers Bobby and Lawrence. Following employment by A.S. Cooper & Son and Piggly Wiggly, the supermarket, he had a 26-year career with the Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son.

Gene and his brothers were pre-war members of the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps when the Second World War broke out on September 3, 1939. The BVRC was mobilised that same day. Lawrence and Bobby, being over 18, were full members of the Corps. Gene, being under age at 15 was not. Though currently serving in the special rank of "Boy", on his 18th birthday, he would move up to the rank of 'Rifleman'.

Posted to Headquarters Company, Boy Doughty was soon assigned a variety of appropriate duties. Moreover, he looked every bit as much a soldier as any of his seniors. No one could outshine his dazzling black boots. Nor could any outshine the brass on his uniform or equipment.

Local units were primarily responsible for Bermuda's defence, especially the coastal defence. Due to its strategic location in mid-Atlantic, Bermuda was vital to Britain's naval defence system. This became more urgent when the British regular garrison troops had to leave Bermuda and return to Britain. The greatest danger at that time was the possibility of enemy landing parties assigned from submarines to sabotage the Dockyard and other vital installations.

Nevertheless, Bermuda was looking ahead to what was felt to be inevitable. Overseas service. Soon, an announcement from Command Headquarters giving all Bermudian servicemen – and women – the chance to put their names down on a potential list of overseas volunteers, as they had been able to do in the First World War. Eugene Doughty had been among the first to do so. At that time, in the BVRC, the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment was the first choice, just as it had been in the First World War.

Nevertheless, it was emphasized that no specific date for actually proceeding overseas could be given. The need for Bermudians to continue to man the local defenses could continue indefinitely. The current exercise was only to give Command Headquarters a realistic number of those wishing to serve abroad.

In the meantime, the United States, following the attack on Pearl Harbour, entered the War. They proceeded to build Kindley Air Force Base and the Naval Operating Base. War planes arrived. Anti-aircraft guns were rapidly installed in strategic places. The speed-up in the creation of these modern sophisticated defences to the Islands had an indirect effect on the growing list of overseas volunteers. Apart from the Army, permission to join other British fighting units was being viewed more favourably. These included the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. Why not? Bermudians had been seafarers for generations. So Gene made his way to Dockyard. He requested an interview and, to his delight, was accepted on July 15, 1943.

A few months later Gene was on his way to one of the larger training bases in England. Graduating successfully, he was posted to HMS Calpe of the 18th Hunt Class Destroyer Escort Flotilla. At the time he came aboard, the Flotilla was guarding and escorting Allied shipping in the Mediterranean .

HMS Calpe had arrived in Naples on March 28, 1942 to begin its Mediterranean campaign. Some of its assignments lasted for weeks. Nearly four years later, on January 27, 1946, HMS Calpe was retired or, as the Royal Navy puts it, "paid off into Category B Reserve at Sheerness".

The date also coincided with Eugene Doughty's farewell to his beloved HMS Calpe. Having joined her in the peak days of the dreadfully dangerous middle years of the War, to leave her must have been one of the most harrowing experiences of his career in the Second World War.

During the late summer of 1944, the Allied High Command was deeply involved in planning the Invasion of Southern France in the wake of the Italian surrender. Over 300,000 troops from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and France were in training. Landings were scheduled between Toulon and Cannes. The first and major prong was called Operation Dragoon. The Second landings near St. Tropez were designed to cut off the Germans retreating from Italy. The speed of the fleeing Germans caused some surprise, but the Allies took full advantage of it. Under the initial command of General Jacob L. Dever (later taken over by General Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Western Allied Commander), the Invasion was a huge success. Thousands of Germans were taken prisoners along with their amour and supplies.

Having succeeded brilliantly with their part of the Invasion, the Naval ships moved on to the Eastern Mediterranean. HMS Calpe helped to cover a vast area, embracing the islands of Rhodes, Crete and Cypress, as well as Coastal North Africa.

There was now no stopping the Allies. They advanced ever Eastwards in the Indian Ocean. Their most advanced fleet headquarters was in Ceylon (later given the name of Sri Lanka). HMS Calpe and the 18th Flotilla penetrated as far East as Penang in Malaya.

By August, 1945, Germany and Japan surrendered.

The following year, Eugene enjoyed a short trip back home. It also gave him a chance to consider several options. The biggest saw him join the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment in 1948 as a Regular soldier, ful-filling one of his earliest dreams. His specialty was training and drilling instruction. Upon graduation, he was appointed to the Lincolns permanent Headquarters at the barracks Staff in the City of Lincoln.

Along the way, Gene fulfilled one of the most important achievements of his life. He met and fell in love with Betty Adams, a lovely English girl from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. On July 16, 1949 they were married. Had Eugene lived until their anniversary this year, they would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Everything seemed in place for Eugene and Betty to return to Bermuda permanently. But not quite. He had still one more military dream to fulfil. An Army-wide appeal informed the world that the Parachute Regiment needed more men. Naturally, Eugene volunteered.

He was dispatched immediately to the 10th Independent Parachute Brigade for training., after which he was posted to the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment in Germany for the next 2 years.

All parachutists love to recall their initial drop. Gene's took place on a murky day. "I couldn't even see the ground", he recalls. "It was from a balloon! My chute opened. There I was. swinging in space. I "came to" when my feet thudded on the ground, which I still couldn't see".

A much more formal parachute memory remained with him when he was present at a memorable occasion at Aldershot when His Majesty, King George VI, presented their colours to three battalions of the Parchute Regiment.

Surviving Eugene Doughty are his loving wife Betty and three sons and their families. They are (wives' names in parentheses): Venerable Archdeacon Andrew Doughty (Rosie); Captain Richard Doughty (Emma), formerly of the Royal Corps of Logistics; and Paul Doughty (Clare, deceased), Second -in-Command and Chief Officer of Middle east based Mobil Company tankers.

Eugene was pre-deceased by his two brothers: Lawrence (Mary), and Robert; and two sisters, Joy and Irene. Lawrence and Robert were war veterans.

I wish to thank sincerely the British Naval and Army research, records and archives departments for their valuable and generous assistance with historical Second World War details I could not otherwise have included.

A special thanks to the Ministry of Defence for supplying the detailed campaign locations of the HMS Calpe which so much enabled me to share with you the cherished memories of a great Second World War British Navy ship, and with those of a dedicated, patriotic and loving member of her crew – Eugene Herbert Doughty of Bermuda.

In the meantime, a major change occurred in the composition of Bermuda Military forces. The Bermuda Rifles came into existence.

In 1951, coincidental with Eugene's completion of his engagement with the Parachute Regiment, the Bermuda Rifles were forming. He was invited and immediately accepted the position of Sergeant-in-charge-of-training for the new Battalion. For Eugene, it was the most satisfactory and fulfilling conclusion to more than 15 years dedicated service to Bermuda, his country and the world which he left free, just as he had found it.

Eugene Doughty was active in the Bermuda War Veterans Association for over 50 years. He had served several terms as President of the BVRC Overseas Association. He and his family are members of St. John's Anglican Church in Pembroke.

Eugene Doughty earned a chest-full of Second World War medals. They included, in alphabetical order, the 1939-1945 Star, the Burma Star, the Italy Star, the France and Germany Star, and in 1945, The Victory Star. That is a lot of military fighting undertaken by one man. But that was the only kind of soldier Eugene Herbert Doughty could have been. May he forever rest in peace.