Tributes to Falklands War veteran John Mollison

Military comrades have paid tribute to Falklands War veteran and adventurer John Mollison, who died at his Scone home aged 60.

While Covid protocols prevented many from making the journey to pay their respects, the coffin, draped in the colours of the Corps of Royal Engineers and a Green Beret, was piped into Perth Crematorium.

Former comrades- inarms Mark Waterson and John Maher recalled their friend’s mischievous sense of humour, loyalty, sense of duty and determination never to be constrained by the loss of a leg during a 1982 minefield clearance.

John underwent an apprenticeship in the Royal Engineers at Chepstow at 16 after leaving Perth Academy and set his sights on making the grade as a Royal Engineer commando.

He joined 59 Independent Commando Squadron RE at Plymouth, completing an Arctic warfare and survival course before a six-month tour in Northern Ireland. The lance corporal saw action in the Falklands with 59 Commando Recce Troop.

“John was always a determined character and he wasn’ t going to be defined by the loss of a leg below the knee,” said Mr Waterson. “If you didn’t know his history while golfing or skiing you’d never have known.

“Completing the brutal Gobi Desert challenge in the heat and dust was just one of many extraordinary achievements.”

Mr Maher added: “There was a small military representation at the funeral to bear the coffin but there would have been 200-plus former comrades in normal times.

“There were messages from far and wide, with many watching the service online.”

After leaving the services, John enjoyed a successful career in financial services before building a Perth property portfolio.

Hobbies included golf, skiing , motorbiking , shooting, fishing and, in recent years, making hundreds of parachute jumps alongside injured militar y ser vicemen in Europe and America.

John set his sights on a solo Atlantic crossing in support of the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association (BLESMA).

He completed a 160-mile Ultra challenge in the wilderness of Jura and Islay as part of his training.

He had been a key part of the Commando Joe Ocean Fours Atlantic Crossing team which supported the Meningitis Trust.

Having secured his yachtsman’s qualifications, his bid to become the first amputee to make an unsupported North Atlantic crossing from west to east foundered when comms equipment on his boat failed off Nova Scotia.

A member of the High Constables of the City of Perth, John golfed at Blairgowrie – falling frustratingly shy of his single figure handicap target – and was a past member of the Royal Perth Golfing Society.

He is survived by wife Lesley and sons Edward and Scott.

John Mollison.