Last of ‘the SAS balcony boys’ dies: Chris Ryan leads tributes to Mel Parry – one of the daredevils who stormed Iranian embassy in London to rescue hostages in 1980
- Mel Parry died yesterday from a ‘long illness’, SAS veteran Bob Shepherd said
One of the last surviving SAS heroes who stormed the Iranian embassy in London to rescue hostages during the 1980 siege has died.
Mel Parry died yesterday from a ‘very long illness’, SAS veteran Bob Shepherd said, calling him ‘arguably one of the finest men’ to have served in the Regiment.
Mr Parry was one of the 32 commandos who famously stormed the building in London to bring an end to the six day hostage siege in 1980.
He was one of the troopers pictured on the embassy’s balcony in a now iconic image, alongside John McAleese, Tom MacDonald and Tommy Palmer.
Author Chris Ryan also paid tribute to him today, calling him a ‘guiding light’ of counter-terrorism operations.
Mel Parry died yesterday from a ‘very long illness’, SAS veteran Bob Shepherd said, calling him ‘arguably one of the finest men’ to have served in the Regiment
Mr Parry is pictured at a weapons exhibition
He was one of the troopers pictured on the embassy’s balcony in a now famous image, alongside John McAleese, Tom MacDonald and Tommy Palmer
The crisis began when six gunmen forced their way into the embassy in West London in April 1980, demanding independence for part of southern Iran and taking 26 hostages.
They killed a hostage after six days, which led Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to order the SAS to storm the building by abseiling down from the roof.
After 17 minutes, the troopers had rescued all but one of the remaining hostages and killed five of the six hostage-takers.
The terrifying operation, seen by a spellbound audience of millions on live television on a May Bank Holiday evening, played a key role in turning the SAS into arguably the world’s most famous military unit.
Announcing Mr Parry’s death, author and SAS veteran Bob Shepherd wrote on his blog: ‘It’s with the greatest of sadness that I write this blog post about arguably one of the finest men to have served in 22 SAS Regiment in my time.
‘I write this as he died from a very long illness today in Hereford. My heart goes out to Mel’s family and close friends.
‘When I joined the Regiment there were so many senior soldiers to look up to and learn from. However Mel was streets ahead in his thinking of SAS training and tactics in just about all forms.
‘For years, I tried my best to emulate Mel’s professionalism…yet never ever came close.
‘He believed like many that training is to be as realistic as possible, and boy did he prove it. It wasn’t just on operations that Mel would show his bravery.’
Before the embassy siege Mr Parry had already ‘proved himself’ during a 1972 tour in Dhofar, when the SAS helped the government of Oman battle Communist rebels, Mr Shepherd wrote.
John McAleese and Tom MacDonald were also involved in the siege
Tommy Palmer was one of three soldiers to receive the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for his conduct during the siege
Author Chris Ryan joined the tributes today, calling Mr Parry a ‘guiding light’ of counter-terrorism operations
Concluding his tribute, he wrote: ‘Whether it was a live squadron attack on an enemy camp in the jungle, using 66mm and grenades to take out bunkers, or room combat drills… and everything in between, Mel would be at the centre of it all.
‘And there would be very few times that anyone disagreed with his plans.
‘It’s a sad sad day, no doubt about it, but when it comes to memories of this great man, no one can be in any doubt what he brought to the Regiment.
‘And it was he who would set the bar high to move the Regiment forward, and look at what the young guns can do today.’
The hostages were held at gunpoint inside the Iranian embassy for six days before special forces abseiled onto the roof and smashed windows to gain access (pictured)
Two men are seen leaning out of a window at the Iranian embassy during the siege
