Hello, my father (James Morrissey) is the one nearest to the camera with his beret slightly back on his head. His best friend in the stick was a German Jew - Bob Stenham. The photo I think is a still from two films made by the Ministry of Information. I will check the films sometime this week to double check that I am right. Michael Morrissey
Saw this article about Bob Stoodley WWII para’s story told in Normandy exhibition - Local - Buxton Advertiser
Saw this article about Bob Stoodley WWII para’s story told in Normandy exhibition - Local - Buxton Advertiser Many Thanks for that info.
I notice there were quite a few relatives of 22nd Independent Parachute Company members posting on here. If you haven't already caught it there's a video on British Pathe that may be of interest. The Paratrooper along with glider related shots start after the 1:30 minute mark and are the work of Sgt L. Harris (AFPU?). Landing Craft - Gliders 1944 - British Pathe If you have a screen capture program and you know what your doing you can grab the video and blow it up slightly. Strictly for personal home viewing of course ... A plug here for Matt's wonderful Chalk Living History site where he pointed to the Pathe film: Chalk Living History - Land, Sea and Airborne Cheers ...
Hi guys ! I am lookin for more information about a ww2 Soldier : BROWN Henry Brooks, 22nd Independant Brigade, service number : 5127260. unfortunetly, i died in 1946 during the Far East Operation. I know he came in France in 1944, he was landed in the same plane than Robert Edward Vane de Lautour. I would get more information about him, a picture would awesome ! thanks for your help. seb (from France)
BROWN Henry Brooks 5127240 (also served in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment) http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2170510/BROWN,%20HENRY%20BROOKS
Hi Seb Hello and welcome to the forum. I cannot see a photograph of him but have you looked at Paradata? http://www.paradata.org.uk/media/4337?mediaSection=Photos Lesley
Thanks for help. Yes i looked at Paradata, he is probably on the 22nd Independant group picutre, but which one ? :biggrin: I had contaced Warwikshire regiment association last week, but no answer at this day... Do you think i could try this : https://www.gov.uk/get-copy-military-service-records As he died more than 25 years ago, i could get information about him. thanks Seb
Seb, His parents were living in Malvern, Worcestershire. Contact Malvern library to see if the local newspaper reported his death. If they did it may include a photograph? http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/directory_record/25/malvern_library Guy
Hi Seb Obtaining his service record may prove fruitful - in my fathers there was a photo of him which they sent with all the other documents. TD PS My father was also in RWR
Thank you Guy, i wills end en email to the Malvern Library, and i will let you know, Thank you Tricky Dicky too, i will check for this information. Thanks seb
Hello everybody, I saw your data on the website about the 22nd-independent-parachute-company-pathfinders. My father Joseph Leszczynski participated as one of the first pathfinders at dday and jumped in Ranville at 00h and few minutes. Unfortunately I dont have his service number but I know that he came from the SOE and that he also served in Italy and in the Ardennes during the winter 44. When he jumped in Normandy he had a radio to signal the landing zone for the aircraft and the gliders but he lost his material and his partner was immediatly killed. He did not land on his DZ. I did not find his name on the list of participants and think he could have been serving on another name for some reasons. He was born in Belgium november 1924. I would be very grateful if you could help me with all the informations and pictures you possess on this event. I remain at your disposal if you need more information concerning my father and his service in the british army. Hoping to hear from you, Stan
Hi Stan and welcome. Would you know what DZ he was suppose to come down on - 'N', 'K' or 'V'? There's a Company photo on ParaData taken early 45 after the Ardennes campaign. Do you see him there? http://www.paradata.org.uk/media/4337?mediaSection=Photos&mediaItem=2449 Regards ...
Hi Stan, In Kerven's history of 22nd Independent Parachute Company 'Eureka' mentions a Pte. Michael Kent [page. 17] One of those who changed his name, was evacuated with ankle damage after a heavy landing... http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1030003934 in the War Diary there is mention of King but with the initial 'R'. Three ORs sustained jumping injuries (No.1305139 Pte. KING, R. - fractured leg ... http://pegasusarchive.org/normandy/war_22coy.htm he would have jumped from the 22 IPC aircraft which left Keevil brithm
Dear Cee and Brithm, Sorry for this late reply and thank you very much for your help. @Cee: I have no idea about the DZ he was supposed to come down on, the only thing I know is that he was supposed to land in Ranville with a radio as a pathfinder. I've looked at the picture and I am not sure I recognise him. My approximate guess would be the eight guy second row from left (but not certain). I would like to send you a picture of my father at about the same period (comes from old photo negatives so I don't know about the exact date and place). @Brithm: I know my father was not injured in Normandy or the Ardennes, so it is unlikely that he would be one of the two men you mentioned. In addition to this, I found in my father's archives the following report of what he did during the Ardennes battle. He wrote it in French but here are the main points (I would like to share a picture of the original document): - 22nd independent parachute company - Major Dolden - coming from Group Phantom (S.O.E) - They were ordered to go to Belgium on the 20th of December and they were the 8-9-7-12-13 battalions - After the Ardennes battle, my father left to the Netherlands immediately I hope this information can help you in your research in any way. Best regards, Stan
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Hi Stan, Thought you had gone forever - ha! Thank you for sharing the great photos of your father. Looks like he had a nice fleece lined hoody to keep him warm. His report is a good summary of the major 6th Airborne movements in the Ardennes. It must having been shocking for his stick to discover the cellar which held the bodies of all the men shot in the head by the Germans at Bande. I have a couple of rough photos of a funeral procession in the Ardennes which may have been for the 34 men killed in the Bande atrocity, but I'm not entirely sure. Needs checking. I'm pretty sure this one is correct. Regards ...
There is a bit of a mystery to the death of Major Lennox-Boyd on D-Day, he was missing on the 6th June 1944 and his body was not found till February 1945, it is not clear whether his parachute did not open or was shot as he made his way down to land. Lennox-Boyd flew from Brize Norton in an Albemarle V.1701 piloted by F/L. Whitty 296 Squadron. What is interesting is that his brother Alan Lennox-Boyd visited him on the 5th June 1944 just before he took off (lax security?) this is from Philip Murphy's book Alan Lennox-Boyd a biography pp.69-70: Sgt. Len Drake gives a more detailed accont from Russell Miller's book Nothing less than Victory The Oral History of D-Day pp187-189: I believe his body was found at or near Escoville not far from DZ 'N'. Lennox Boyd's stick Private T. O'Brien Corporal Corbett Sergeant L. Drake Private Beattie Private R. Newton Sergeant Lindores Sergeant S. Patterson (Royal Army Medical Corps) Private Hinchcliffe ? Lieutenant Moore (attached from Royal Signals)
