Just another thought how do I find out when Benouville churchyard is open for visitors

Unless restrictions have been imposed, the churchyard is always open.

Steve W.

__________________

The Glider Pilot Regiment 1942 - 1945
The Last Drop:Operation Varsity 24-25 March 1945
The Assault Glider Trust

Pauline,
L/Cpl Frederick Jackson was in ‘A’ Company 3 platoon. This platoon was nearly entirely made up with men from Scottish Regiments. The platoon was split into two sticks for D-Day; one stick landed several miles away and did not get back to the battalion for some days.

His stick landed on DZ ‘N’ and a very brief account by L/Cpl Davey list the following 3 Platoon men going into the village of Benouville:
Lt Hunter, L/Cpl Davey, L/Cpl Jackson, Ptes Cockburn, Gurney, Pembury and Mills.

Davey was wounded and became cut off from the rest of the Company when the German tanks broke through, cutting A Company off from the rest of the Battalion.

Pte Mills is buried in Benouville Church I do not know how he was killed.

Pte Gurney survived D-Day but was wounded shortly afterwards, He has written an account, in which he states that at 16.15 hrs we had gathered 23 German Prisoners and L/Cpl Jackson volunteered to escort them down to the bridge for Interrogation. He was killed by a snipers bullet whilst returning to A Company. (There is only a mention of Captain Jim Webber managing to get back to the bridges to request reinforcements and more ammunition as the situation in Benouville had become critical. Jim himself had been wounded on three separate occasions but was still continuing to fight on despite having a punctured lung. It is highly probable that Jackson was killed by a sniper but on his way to the bridges from Benouville and not on the way back)

Lt David Hunter was wounded early on in the fighting by shrapnel from a German grenade. He was bleeding profusely from a head wound and was drenched in his own blood, but being the only platoon commander left from A Company he continued to command a group of men in the farm buildings at the southern end of the village near the entrance to the Chateau gates. Lt Temple from 1 Platoon was badly injured and died from his wounds and Lt Bowyer from 2 Platoon had been killed during the first engagement with the enemy. David Hunter was later shot through the arm and the bren gunner Pte Smith who was lying next to him was killed.

Pte Pembury had his leg shattered and was also hit by fragments from a grenade thrown by Lt Hunter, who due to the loss of blood was unable to throw a grenade far enough. Despite nearly being killed by Lt Hunter, Pte Pembury spoke to the press after being evacuated to England and stated that Lt Hunter deserved the Victoria Cross for his actions on D-Day.

Pte Cockburn survived.

You will also find the following graves in the churchyard in Benouville

Captain George Parry the battalion padre, he was killed trying to defend the wounded soldiers in the RAP which was located in Benouville and overrun.
Pte McARA was one of the first men to be killed, Lt Hunter heard Germans speaking on the other side of a hedge at the southern end of the village, he ordered McARA who was a small man to try and look through a small hole in the hedge, McARA went through the hedge and was killed by the Germans on the other side.

Pte McGee He stood up in the open and fired a bren from the hip at an advancing German tank, allowing other men to place gammon bombs on the tank. He was killed later on in the day but was awarded the DCM for his action in Benouville. Whilst talking of gallantry awards it should also be mentioned that Jim Webber, David Hunter and Nigel Taylor the A Company Commander, who was also wounded, all got a Military Cross.


Benouville church is in the hamlet of Le Port and is situated just North of Pegasus Bridge, this area was defended by B Company, they were also cut off from the battalion for much of the day. The house on the opposite side of the road and North of the junction was stormed by Sgt McCambridge and a small group of men despite being totally cut off for most of the day, they managed to hold this isolated position and prevented the Germans coming further South than the Church, which was in German hands for most of the day, Snipers in the bell tower made movement very difficult. Lt Ted Pool along with two other men attempted to flush the Germans out of the tower, who responded by throwing grenades down the steps to the tower. McCambridge was awarded a DCM and Ted Pool an MC. The Germans were cleared from the tower after a PIAT was fired at it.

Pte Cornell the B Company runner became one of the main targets for the snipers, during D-Day and several actions in the following weeks. He risked his life on numerous occasions and was wounded four times, he was also awarded the DCM.

The village of Benouville is situated South of Pegasus Bridge, when you go South from the church, you will come to a roundabout, the road to the left goes to Pegasus Bridge, the garden of the old building on the left was used as the B Company HQ, This building was overrun on D-Day, you will find the 7th Battalion memorial between this building and the roundabout. On the South side of the road you will see a building with a clock this is the Town Hall. If you take the road to the West of this building and continue South you will come to a cross roads. The Chateau gates will be on your left, if you turn right you will come across an old farm building on your right, A Company were fighting around this building.

I have not been able to identify your uncle on the battalion photograph; do you have a picture of him? The April 1944 photograph can be viewed on the New Airborne Forces Museum web site Google Paradata then type in 7th Battalion Parachute Regiment; if you then look under photographs you will find the picture. Most of A Company are in the fourth row down from the top.





.

This is a message for any one one trying to find information on men who served in the 7th Battalion (Light Infantry) The Parachute Regiment.

I can not promise to have the answers to your questions but I will try and provide what information I have obtained. I will answer all emails sent to me, but you might have to wait a few days for a reply. To send an email click on my profile, then click on send email.

If you know the identity of any of the men on the April 1944 photograph, could you please let me know as I have only been able to identify about half the battalion.

Also I am looking for any information and photographs relating to the 7th Battalion

Yours

Michael

Hello,
I am Malcolm Fredrick Jackson, the son of Fredrick Jackson.
I have found your details on the WWll forum.
I would be very interested in contacting you. My wife’s email address is
sandra_souls_shangrila@hotmail.com
I look forward to your email.
Best Wishes

Jacko
(this email sent by David Clarke on behalf of Jacko)

I AM THE SON OF L/CPL FREDERICK JACKSON 3253029 .YOUR MOTHER MUST BE MY AUNT AMY. MY MOTHER IRIS AND MYSELF AND FAMILY HAVE BEEN TO MY FATHERS GRAVE MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS SINCE THE WAR.I HOPE YOU SEE THIS NOTE,AND THAT WE CAN HAVE FURTHER CONTACT . BEST WISHES IRIS AND JACKO.

TO MICHAEL PINECOFFIN
YOUR REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
APRIL 1944 BATT PHOTO
5TH ROW DOWN 18TH FROM RIGHT R.DAVEY.3253005.
5TH ROW DOWN 19TH FROM RIGHT F.JACKSON.3253029.

CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ON HOW I CAN GET IN TOUCH
WITH PAULINE WHO I AM RELATED TO BUT AFTER THE WAR MY MOTHER
LOST TOUCH

TO
MICHAEL PINE-COFFIN
CORECTION TO MY LAST NOTE
F.JACKSON.3253029

Hello this thread. Can anyone help with any information on my uncle 249233 Capt. Charles Arthur Winstanley WOODBURN kia 24 March 1945? All I have is the CWGC record. What and where was the Btn that day? Are there any WWII medal records online yet (similar to WWI). I would like to post his photo when I am authorised.

Welcome to the Forum!

The Battalion was in Germany, having taken part in Operation Varsity, the airborne element of the Rhine Crossing.

Steve W.

__________________

The Glider Pilot Regiment 1942 - 1945
The Last Drop:Operation Varsity 24-25 March 1945
The Assault Glider Trust

I can find mention of your Dad on www.paradata.org.uk shown as KIA ON 23 4 . 45 with the rank of Lieutenant but other than that nothing more than the info you can find on CWGC.Also look in the Pegasus Archives.

__________________
WHEN YOU GO HOME, TELL THEM OF US AND SAY, FOR YOUR TOMORROW,WE GAVE OUR TODAY. Epitaph on the Kohima memorial .

Sorry had a few problems with my computer and have not looked at this site for some time. Malcolm thank you for identifying your father and Woody I have your uncle on the Pri roll after Normandy his NOK is his mother Mrs Mary Woodburn at 25,Pendennis Road, Wallesley, Cheshire.
On the Rhine drop he was in chalk 241, he was the Mortar Platoon Commander. He was killed on the drop or shortly afterwards,he is the only officer to be listed as killed from the battalion on that day. Have asked some of the veterans for more information, which I will post if they know the answers.
Have you tried Army Service Records The contact number is 0845 600 9663
Yours Michael

Hi Michael, Many thanks for that - kindly explain "chalk 241" to a newbie. What was the structure of a Mortar Platoon, was it 1 per company or were they indep and what sort of numbers of men and mortars in a unit. Haven't tried the Army Services Records - a bit tricky from the 3rd world. Best Wishes - Woody

Hi again Michael - Herewith a photograph of Charles Arthur Winstanley WOODBURN 249233 7th Btn. Parachute Regiment. Is anyone collecting for a gallery?
Wrt his NOK, could his mother be Mrs. May Woodburn and not Mary (is it hand-written?).
Regards, Woody

Attached Images

Woodburn Charles Arthur Winstanley army.jpg (79.1 KB, 4 views)

Woody,
Have just heard from Ron Perry, who has been in contact with Rex Norton, the Machine Gun Platoon officer for the Rhine drop. He remembered seeing your uncle lying next to Roy Nelson (who died from his wounds) during the 24/03/1945. Can not establish how your uncle died but was probably hit by machine gun fire or flak from an 88 gun battery, who caused numerous casualties on the drop and within the woods after the troops landed; my grandfather being one of the victims.

I have your uncle listed as being in charge of the anti tank platoon in the Ardennes. (I originally missed his name on the list)

Unlike modern battalions World War 2 parachute battalions did not have a Support Company, they had 3 rifle Companies and an HQ Company, which comprised of Anti Tank Platoon, Mortar Platoon,Machine gun platoon, these platoons proved support for the battalion and consisted of about 40 men.

Your Uncle was known as Chuck within the mess and he was one of several officers who had been commissioned from within the ranks, including Rex Norton who was the only soldier to be commissioned and stay with the same battalion, although Cyril Cook managed to stay some time with 7 Para before being transferred to the 12th Battalion.

The PRI roll is typed but have spotted several spelling mistakes

The chalk numbers is the number chalked on the side of the plane that they jumped from,your uncle was the only man to be killed on Operation Varsity. My grandfather kept the issue of parachute lists for the operation; most of the documentation has been destroyed.
Thank you for publishing the photograph, I have been trying to identify ex members of the battalion.

There has been some doubt raised if your uncle was in charge of the mortar platoon on the drop, it has been suggested that it night have been Roy Nelson but the order of battle does show your uncle as being in charge of the mortar platoon and Roy Nelson the anti tank platoon. I suspect that this could be the other way round, as Nelson had been in charge of the mortar platoon and jumped with 2 platoon on the Rhine drop as Lt Simpson the 2 platoon commander had been deemed unfit to jump through an injury received on a training jump. He went in a glider with members of the mortar platoon on the Rhine drop. Yours
Michael

Hi Michael

My late Father, Frederick Edward Adams served under your GrandFather in the 7th (LI) Battalion. I know he was at Pegasus Bridge on D-Day and I had the honour to accompany him to the 60th anniversary celebrations before he passed away last August. I've gathered a fair bit of info about that particular campaign but am very vague about the rest of his military service apart from knowing he was involved at Arnhem and the Rhine jump. I was wondering if i may take you up on your very kind offer and ask if you (or indeed anyone else that may be able to help) could search your records for me? I believe he was in A coy and have his army number if that is any help?

Thanking you so much.

Wendy Adams

Hi All

Well after much googling I have finally found this wonderful forum. My Grandfather - CQMS Stanley C Savill (3244621) also served under Lt Col Pine-Coffin. He was killed on the 14th June 1944 (I believe near Ranville where he was buried). My Grandmother (now 93) was 6 months pregnant with my mother at the time. We have the battallion photograph (the big long one) complete with signatures on the back of some of his closest comrades. My mother also has the letters of sympathy from Lt Col Pine-Coffin and one from Maj Steele Baume. I suspect there may be some more letters. I would desperately like to hear any information on my grandfather. We got back from Normandy last month, with a couple of copies of "The Tale of Two Bridges", and are slowly working through it.

Thanks again, Steve.

Steve,
Some time ago I gained the following information from Terry Martin.who was the C Company C.S.M. and was with Stan Savill when he was killed on the 14th June 1944.

C.S.M. Martin and C.Q.M.S. Stan Savill were standing in the yard of a stud farm in the village of Herouvillette, whilst in the process of organising a hot meal for the men, a salvo of shells exploded killing C.Q.M.S. Savill and wounding C.S.M. Martin, two other men were also wounded.

Wendy,
Have sent you an email requesting your father's regimental number, as there were several men called Adams in the battalion.

Yours
Michael

Hello, I have just read this thread regarding the 7th battalion Parachute Regiment. Of particular interest was the post on 11th November 2008 by Pmcleary regarding the death of his uncle Shane Kearney.
My father was present at this sad event and told me about it a few times. Because Lt. Kearney was such a popular young officer I believe it affected a number of people greatly.
From what I can gather he was very close to battalion HQ when he received a small shrapnel wound high up in his groin. This severed the artery there and despite the ministrations of many members of the regiment, including senior officers he could not be treated. I think what a lot of people felt at the time was such an inocuous wound should not have led to his death. Apparently the medic there was trying to shape a cork from a bottle to try and plug the wound, of course this proved fruitless.
My father told me about it because he said such concern was being shown to Lt. Kearney that the direction of the fight they were involved in at the time virtually came to a standstill as senior officers tried to help.

Sorry if my info is distressing to Pmcleary, or anyone else, but I thought there may be interest in learning how this brave soldier lost his life.
(My father was CQMS Bill Cooper)
Regards Matt Cooper