Charles McMahon enlisted into The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) on 30 April 1942. ^[1]

He volunteered for The Airborne Forces and was on Parachute Course 42 at RAF Ringway, 14 – 25 December 1942, but was taken sick and did not complete any jumps on the Course. ^[2]

He was transferred to Parachute Course 43 at RAF Ringway, which had commenced on 20 December, and finished on 2 January 1943. He completed the two balloon descents and five Whitley aircraft descents to qualify as an Army Parachutist and was posted to the 4^th Parachute Battalion. ^[2]

The 4^th Parachute Battalion, along with the 2^nd Parachute Brigade, and the rest of the 1^st Airborne Division sailed to Tunisia in North Africa, to join The 1^st Parachute Brigade in May 1943. Here they prepared for further airborne operations in the Mediterranean area. The 2^nd Parachute Brigade was not used in the Invasion of Sicily in July 1943, but did take part in Operation ‘Slapstick’, which was a naval landing at the southern Italian port of Taranto in September 1943. After advancing north for three weeks, and having driven the German forces back to the north of Foggia, The 1^st Airborne Division was withdrawn into Reserve.

Private McMahon transferred to The Middlesex Regiment on 18 October 1943. ^[1]

He was posted to the 2^nd/7^th Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment, which was attached to the 1^st Infantry Division as a Support Battalion. ^[3]

Private McMahon was killed in action on the 12 March 1944, aged 20.

The son of Charles Joseph and Emily Kate McMahon, of Hounslow, Middlesex, he now lies at rest in the Naples War Cemetery, 2. N. 15.

NOTES:

[1] The Parachute Regiment, Transfer & Enlistment Book 01, page 68.

[2] Parachute Course Reports. R.A.F. Ringway. December 1942 & January 1943.

[3] The British Army Orders Of Battle. 1939 – 1945.

Written and researched by Robert Hilton; Profile picture provided by McMahon Family via Robert Hilton