Private William Blood

Private William Blood was the son of William and Annie Blood, of Walsall, Staffordshire.

Prior to joining the Army he worked at Hadleys, a brick manufacturer in Willenhall, who held him in high regard. He later volunteered for airborne forces while serving with The Herefordshire Regiment and attended the fourth parachute course run at RAF Ringway to train troops forming part of the newly established 1st Parachute Brigade in December 1941.He returned to RAF Ringway for the fourth advanced parachute course for Brigade personnel in February 1942, as a member of C Company, 3rd Parachute Battalion.

Later that year he deployed with the battalion for Operation Torch, the campaign to dislodge Axis forces from North Africa, when the battalion parachuted to capture Bone airfield in November 1942.

By March 1943, the 3rd Battalion was deployed, along with its sister battalions, in Tamera.

On 8 March the enemy launched a major attack with four regiments, primarily on the 1st and 2nd Battalion positions. Initially the 3rd Battalion area was only subjected to shell fire until around 11.00 hours when the Germans attacked C Company positions. C Company endured some hard fighting and suffered five dead, including Pte Blood, and seven wounded.

Private Blood died on 8 March 1943, aged 24 years old, and is now buried at Tabarka Ras Rajel War Cemetery, Tunisia.

Profile photograph courtesy of David Hammond.