Death of the last 'P' Party diver

17 Apr 2023 - I was deeply saddened to learn that Second World War ‘P’ Party diver Johnny Paine BEM crossed the bar in a veterans’ care home in Worthing yesterday at the age of 98.

These are the words of legendary Clearance Diver chronicler Ginge Fullen QGM who first introduced me to Johnny in August 2021 at his home in Lancing (see entry for 5 Aug 21 in News Archive 73 of the MCDOA’s old website):

John Payne BEM - One of the Originals

I can’t really describe the honour and privilege of meeting a WWII “P” Party diver. Ever since I got interested in the history of the diving branch several years ago I dearly wished I had started decades earlier and had the opportunity to meet some of the WWII divers. Now I had that chance and indeed it was a special moment to meet someone who had taken part in history and helped shape the Clearance Diving branch we know today. John was 96 years old in 2021 when I first met him. His memory for that period of his life (P-Party) was very good. His daughter and son had never heard him talk so much about his time in the war, speaking to a fellow diver had seemed to rejuvenate John his daughter Sheila told me.

John was one of the very first volunteers for the P-Parties in 1943 and joined P1 (NP 1571) and was one of the few divers which would still be diving two years later. He trained at Siebe Gorman headquarters, London Docks and Horsea Island and learned his bomb disposal at HMS VOLCANO.

The P-Parties job was a dangerous one clearing the harbours and ports of Europe of mines and ordnance and for such a small group of men they earned some of the most awards of any military unit or regiment. John himself was awarded a BEM for his bravery.

John and his family were able to visit the Diving Museum in Gosport a couple of years ago [see entry for 3 Sep 21 in News Archive 73 of the MCDOA’s old website] and last year I invited him to Horsea Island [see entry for 3 Oct 2022 in the MCDOA’s new website]. He had not been there since his training dive in 1943. The P-Party Divers helped shape the Clearance Diving branch we know today.

I always tell this story about John. We were both at Horsea Island and had our medals on – John “you have rather a lot of medals Ginge?”. Me “John, I have the same amount of medals as you but it took me 30 years to get mine, you earned yours in 3 years!”. Respect to one of the very first and most likely the very last “P” Party Diver – John Payne BEM.

I am sure all members of our community will join me in extending our deepest condolences to Johnny’s wife Jill, daughter Sheila, stepsons Nick and David, and his other family members and close friends. Details of his funeral will be published when available.

Postscript: Johnny’s funeral will be held at 1100 on Tuesday 9 May 2023 at: Shoreham Chapel, 101 Eastern Avenue, Shoreham, BN43 6PE.