Hi, my name is Diane. I am part of a small group of people who are working to raise funds to enable a commemorative headstone and bench to be placed for a remarkable and humble man.

Although I never had the chance to meet Joe in person, I feel I came to know him well through the recorded oral history — listening as he shared his life, memories, and experiences during the recordings with Glen Moon, this led me to feel nothing but respect and genuine affection towards Joe. Joe never married and had no children, and though it has been several years since he passed, he still has no lasting memorial to mark his resting place.

This cover photo is especially poignant as we can see Joe so happy and relaxed with a fellow soldier — different generations, but still comrades. I would welcome you to read further details about Joe below in the biography; it is an interesting read, though it does not cover all his rich experiences. Our hope is to give him the dignified tribute he deserves, so his name and story will never be forgotten.

If any money exceeds expectations or needs, the remainder will be split between two charities of Joe’s interest, the Royal British Legion and Orkney Cats Protection Society.

Extract from Biography

This cover photo commemorates the life and legacy of John (Joe) William Cload MBE, who lived to be 100 years old. His story is intertwined with the history of Orkney and its wartime resilience, reflecting a life of service, dedication, and quiet humility. The photograph serves as a tribute to Joe’s remarkable journey, from his military service to his lifelong commitment to the Hackness Battery and Tower, and his enduring presence in the Orkney community.

John William Cload was born on 13 September 1920 to John James William Cload and Margaret Cload (née Sinclair). To distinguish him from his father, John William Cload was affectionately known as Joe among family and friends.

Witness to the First German Air Raid on Scapa Flow

When the Second World War began in 1939, Joe was initially retained on ‘protected service’, working on local road infrastructure and contributing to engineering projects at the Lyness naval base. On 17 October 1939, Joe witnessed the first German air raid on Scapa Flow and defences, and saw first-hand the bombing of HMS Iron Duke by a German Junkers JU-88. The vessel sustained significant damage and was beached to prevent sinking. During the same event Joe observed the shooting down of the Junkers JU-88 by anti-aircraft guns, marking the first enemy aircraft destroyed by ground fire on British soil. The Luftwaffe also targeted Hackness Battery (Joe’s home), likely having mistaken it for boom defence infrastructure.

World War II Service On 14 May 1942

Joe enlisted in the General Service Corps at Fort George, later transferring in the August to the Royal Engineers, where he served until February 1947. Joe’s military service took him to North Africa, Egypt, Italy, and Greece. Notably, on 23 March 1943, while enroute to North Africa aboard RMS Windsor Castle, the ship was torpedoed by enemy aircraft in the Mediterranean.

Joe survived and was transferred to Algiers.

The Amazon Bailey Bridge and the Battle of Monte Cassino

After nine months in North Africa and a brief period in Egypt, Joe was posted to Italy with the 225th Royal Engineers, 4th Division Field Company. There, he contributed to the construction of the “Amazon Bailey” bridge, which played a critical role in the breakthrough at the Battle of Monte Cassino on 12/13 May 1944 (see Picture 2: Battle of Monte Cassino and the “Amazon Bailey”).

The Amazon bridge, started first by Joe's 225th Field Company, was to be built 'at all costs'. All three of 4th Division's engineer companies (7th, 59th and 225th) toiled under sniper fire and heavy shelling and mortaring - and exposure by flares - to build the Bailey Bridge overnight on 12/13 May 1944. The passage of tanks over the bridge from 0445 hours on 13th May was arguably the turning point of the whole Cassino offensive. 'It had cost the engineers 83 casualties out of the 200 men involved'. Joe was one of those 200.

After completing his service in Italy, Joe was stationed in Greece until 1946. Upon demobilisation he returned to Orkney.

Return to Orkney

Upon returning home, Joe settled back into his quiet life in Orkney. He befriended local wildlife – seagulls and a stray cat! – worked for the Admiralty at Lyness until around 1957 in “cold war” preparation, later taking up maintenance duties for Orkney County Council as a ‘County Man’, until his retirement.

In 1997, Joe received an MBE from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his work in preserving the Martello Tower and Battery (his home) in supporting its restoration. Joe was invited to Buckingham Palace for the investiture but declined, stating, “the last time I left Orkney, people tried to shoot me.” He accepted the honour from the Queen’s representative, the Lord Lieutenant in Orkney.

Oral Histories and Final Years

Drawing on decades of hands-on experience and a quiet determination shaped by years of service and stewardship, Joe remained deeply invested in the Hackness Battery and the preservation of its unique heritage.

During his later years, Joe generously participated in extensive interviews with Glen Moon, the current Steward of Hackness Battery and Tower, resulting in over thirty hours of recordings. Joe’s oral histories offered vivid recollections of his upbringing, wartime service, and the many military artefacts he had safeguarded over the years. Through these stories, he provided a deeply personal perspective on local heritage, ensuring that the memories and significance of Hackness Battery would endure for generations to come.

Joe passed away on 3 October 2020 shortly after his hundredth birthday. He is buried at Osmondwall Cemetery, South Walls, near his lifelong home. Unmarried and without children, he has no headstone marking his grave.

Extract from biography by kind permission of author, Amanda Tickle.