Description
D-day -1 British Para helmet named F R Burgess
Mr F R Burgess jumped into normandy with 9th battalion parachute regiment on 6-6-1944 the day before d-day
reported missing on 10-7-1944
reported POW on 30-10-1944
Imprisoned in Stalag 4B Muhlberg Elbe POW nr 81211
rank private
service number 6401458
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_(Eastern_and_Home_Counties)_Parachute_Battalion
info from wikipedia
The first combat action by the 9th Parachute Battalion, was in Operation Tonga, part of the Normandy landings. The battalion’s primary objective was the Merville Gun Battery, which was in a position to threaten the British landings at Sword Beach. Although seriously understrength after a disastrous parachute drop, the battalion silenced the battery but was reduced in strength to 65 men. The battalion then attacked Le Plein capturing the Chateau St Côme. Being too weak to attempt their last objective the battalions dug in around le Plein. One of the battalion’s casualties on 6 June was Paratroop dog Glen. The dog had been parachuted into Normandy with his handler and both were killed during the day’s fighting. They are buried together in the Ranville War Cemetery.
Over the following days the 9th Parachute Battalion fought off a number of attacks by the German 346th Infantry Division. On 8 June Lieutenant Colonel Otway was wounded by an artillery shell; eventually on the 19th July 1944 he was evacuated, never returning to active service. For his command during the attack on the Merville battery he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Otway was replaced as commanding officer by the brigade major of the 6th Airlanding Brigade, Napier Crookenden who was promoted in the field to lieutenant colonel. On 12 June during the battle of Bréville the battalion was in danger of being overrun and had to call for urgent reinforcements, which came from a company of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion led by Brigadier James Hill, commander of the 3rd Para Brigade. They successfully counter-attacked and restored the line.
The 6th Airborne Division was assisted by reinforcements from the 1st and 4th Special Service Brigades and 153rd (Highland) Infantry Brigade. The southern edge of the Orne bridgehead was taken over by 51st (Highland) Infantry Division on 14 June allowing the 6th Airborne Division to consolidate its positions. The 9th Parachute Battalion remained in the front line carrying out patrols and sniping and fought off numerous attacks up to 16 August.
On 17 August the battalion advanced crossing the River Dives, between Cabourg and Troan. By 22 August they had reached the River Touques and the River Seine when the time the advance was stopped on 26 August. The battalion was then withdrawn back to England in September 1944.
