Gents, I am researching Private John Whittaker who dropped on D-Day with the 13th battalion Parachute Regiment in Stick No. 325 which I believe dropped near Lisieux 40miles off course on the 6th June. Whittaker evaded capture in a chateau and rejoined his battalion on the 13th June on the casualty list states. I wonder if any member could shed any light on this event and the other soldiers. Thanks Richard
Richard, this is correct that stick dropped not far from Lisieux and I may be able to help. Regards, Ludo
A start 13th Battalion The Parachute Regiment: Luard's Own Dave ROBINSON remembers that after the Pout L'Eveque fighting, he drove Padre FOY to a chateau in the area and there collected Corporal John MESKI and Privates Doug SHARPE and John WHITTAKER. A little later Serjeants Arthur STUBBS and Tommy SMITH also rejoined us. They were all members of Stick No. 325 dropped near Lisieux, 40 miles from the D.Z. and who had successfully evaded capture TD
Thanks gents looks like they spent three months in a barn. I managed to find the account in the battalion history 13 - Lucky For Some: The History of the 13th Para WW2. The lads including Mescki ended up rejoining when the allied troops closed in. Joseph Whittaker was from Salford and died in Sept 1991. He was badly wounded in April 45.
The author is a member on here but I cant remember his username just his avatar (the same as on the book) TD
Len Cox's E&E report contains information about other members of this unit, not necessarily his stick though
len cox was awarded a mention for his escape in July. Private Leonard Harry Cox Unit : 13th Parachute Battalion Army No. : 1463009 Awards : Mentioned in Despatches Private Cox was dropped astray on the 6th June and eventually captured. He teamed up with a Private Maurice Bennett of No.3 Commando and together they made good their escape. The following is their joint citation for a Mention in Despatches. After being wrongly dropped on 6th June 1944, Cox evaded capture for 20 days before he and five others were finally apprehended by the Germans near Auvillars. He was taken to a camp at Bonnebosq, where he met Bennett, captured whilst on patrol in Amfreville on 27th June 1944. Transferred to a racing stables near Falaise, they made plans to escape, which they put into effect on 7th July 1944. Climbing up a small staircase, they penetrated the barricade barring the entrance to the rooms over the stables, and descended through a window to the street below by means of a blanket rope. From a Prisoners of War who was employed as a baker they had obtained knowledge of the surrounding country and the position of German gun emplacements. For seven days they hid at Putarges before travelling to Desertines. Here they were hidden until they were escorted to American troops at Passais. I recommend these two men for the award of Mention.