James R Dossetter

James Dossetter enlisted into the Royal West Kent Regiment.

Private Dossetter volunteered for airborne forces and undertook parachute training course 121 at RAF Ringway between 18 June and 7 July 1944.

After qualifying as a military parachutist he was initially posted to No1 Airborne Forces Holding Unit. He was then posted to 8 Platoon, C Company, 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion and served in the Ardennes Campaign, the Rhine Crossing, the advanced to the Baltic, the Far East and Palestine.

Pte Dossetter demobbed in October 1946.

By Wendy George

Date not known
7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion (Private)

Operations

Event

Advance to the Baltic

The airborne soldiers were well suited to exploit the fluid situation that occurred following the collapse of the Rhine barrier defence. Short fierce actions were fought from the tanks of the 4th Tank Battalion of the Grenadier Guards and whatever transport could be purloined.

Event

Ardennes

After the Allied landings in Normandy and subsequent advance through France and Belgium, the German Army had succeeded in stalling the Allied offensive along their line of defence at the German border - the ‘Siegfried Line’.

Event

Far East

The 5th Parachute Brigade was sent to the Far East in preparation for a potential invasion of Japan. However, only the advance elements of the Brigade had reached the Far East prior to the Japanese surrender.

Event

Palestine

Arab intransigence over the surge of Jewish immigration that followed the Holocaust in Europe led to the forming of extreme dissident Zionist groups such as IZL (Irgun Zwai Leumi) and the Stern Gang, all seeking to promote their aims through violence.

Event

Rhine Crossing (Operation Varsity)

Operation Varsity was the largest single airborne operation in history. On a single day, over 16,000 men were inserted by glider and parachute into western Germany. Around 8000 of those came from the British 6th Airborne Division, flying aboard 243 C47 aircraft and 440 gliders.

Photos_2

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Pte Dossetter, American soldier and Pte Davies, 7th Para Bn, date unknown.

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Enlarge Details

Ptes George Davies and Jim Dossetter, 8 Pln, C Coy, 7th Para Bn c1946.

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Private James R Dossetter

{ Jim }

Service History

Operations

Advance to the Baltic

Ardennes

Far East

Palestine

Rhine Crossing (Operation Varsity)

Photos_2

Latest Comments

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The Airborne Shop

Private James R Dossetter

{ Jim }

Service History

Operations

Advance to the Baltic

Ardennes

Far East

Palestine

Rhine Crossing (Operation Varsity)

Photos_2

Latest Comments

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