Frederick Eber Durbin was the son of Henry and Alice Maude Durbin; husband of Joyce Lilian (Howell) Durbin, of Horfield, Bristol. Married April 1940, Bristol. He enlisted in the Somerset Light Infantry and volunteered for airborne forces.

Company Sergeant Major Durbin successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 41 from 3 to 17 December 1942. His course report stated “a very good man, has worked extremely well throughout course.” He was posted to B Company, 7th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment and took part in Operation Overlord (Normandy Landings).

CSM Durbin was killed in action on 18 June 1944, aged 25, and is commemorated on the Bayeux Memorial to the missing, France.

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