operation dragoon

A good analysis here Airborne Invasion of Southern France - Operation Dragoon

 

while looking for information in regard to this thread I came across this in the book Operation Dragoon by William B. Breuer. "Lt Jim Reith the platoon leader in the 517th PIR was moving cross-country with his men when he spotted several curious-looking forms sprawled in a field.He went to investigate and as he drew closer recognised that these were British paratroopers.There were ten of them, and they obviously had plunged to their deaths when their parachutes failed to open.They could understand how one man's chute had failed to open, or even two men's chutes in the same stick.But ten failures? It would remain one of wars multitude of unexplainable riddles." Having checked the dates for Casulties around the 14th -17th August I came up with this www.********.co.uk/cgi-bin/sxww2.php?value=1&pageno=1

 

One of the members of the 1st Ind Para Platoon of XXI Ind Para Coy was KIA as a result of his chute failing to open (or open correctly cant remember which it was now).

Whereas in many other theatres the fallen were buried in cemetaries near to the place they died, for Dragoon all of the British casualties were flown back to Italy and buried somewhere there.

Anyone know where the British Casualties from Dragoon are buried?

Tim

 

One of the members of the 1st Ind Para Platoon of XXI Ind Para Coy was KIA as a result of his chute failing to open (or open correctly cant remember which it was now).

Whereas in many other theatres the fallen were buried in cemetaries near to the place they died, for Dragoon all of the British casualties were flown back to Italy and buried somewhere there.

Anyone know where the British Casualties from Dragoon are buried?

Tim
The man in question is Private Eric 'Terry' Morley 6299827 aged 21 died 15.8.1944 buried Marzargues cemetery grave 8, plot 4, Row C- from Leading the way to Arnhem. Although at present I can find no record of him on Geoffs site Found him! CWGC :: Casualty Details .As for the dead from Dragoon in my above post there are 14 Paras from 4 5 and 6 Para buried there.

 

Just to add also found one casulty for Dragoon from the GPR CWGC :: Casualty Details and he came from just down the road from me!

 

Hmm... so was mis-informed... clearly from the CWG records they were all buried here - MAZARGUES WAR CEMETERY, MARSEILLES - will have to pop over there sometime... good to know. Thanks.

 

Hmm... so was mis-informed... clearly from the CWG records they were all buried here - MAZARGUES WAR CEMETERY, MARSEILLES - will have to pop over there sometime... good to know. Thanks.


I can confirm British Paras in Mazargues:
I was there just before joining this forum.




But email the CWGC first, and ask them for a contact to one the gardners,
or it may be locked up.

Sadly, that Cemetery is not in a good part of town..

 

Martin thanks for the confirmation