James K French | ParaData

James French served in the Royal Artillery prior to volunteering for airborne forces during World War II.

He qualified as a military parachutist on course 96, which ran at RAF Ringway in December 1943, and subsequently served with 9 Para Bn HQ Coy Signals Platoon during the campaigns to liberate North West Europe in 1944-45.

'Jimmy' French died on 17 May 2014 aged 92.

Profile photograph courtesy of Richard French.

By ParaData Editor

1939
Royal Artillery (Signalman)
1943
9th (Essex) Parachute Battalion A.A.C. (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

Normandy (Operation Overlord)

Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of occupied Europe commonly known as D-Day, saw the 6th Airborne Division for the first time.

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.

Decorations

Solo photos_2

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James French, 9th Para Bn Veteran, date unknown.

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Pte Jimmy French

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Group photos_1

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James French (centre) at Merville Battery commemoration.

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Private James K French

{ Jimmy }

17 May 2014

Service History

Operations

Advance to the Baltic

Ardennes

Normandy (Operation Overlord)

Palestine

Rhine Crossing (Operation Varsity)

Decorations

Solo photos_2

Group photos_1

Latest Comments

Donate

The Airborne Shop

Private James K French

{ Jimmy }

17 May 2014

Service History

Operations

Advance to the Baltic

Ardennes

Normandy (Operation Overlord)

Palestine

Rhine Crossing (Operation Varsity)

Decorations

Solo photos_2

Group photos_1

Latest Comments

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