Private Frank Embury

Frank Embury was part of the 'Rodney' group of C Coy, 2nd Parachute Bn, and took part in the Bruneval Raid, Op biting in February 1942.

Frank was parachute jump trained along with 3 officers and 205 'other ranks' at RAF Ringway on the 2nd Advanced Course. This course ran from 14 to 19 January 1942.  

It is noted in the course reports that there were many injuries caused by the 'severe' weather conditions and hard ground caused by frost. Only 151 men passed this course. 

During the Bruneval Raid, Frank was split up from the main group and arrived at the beach too late to get on the transport back to England. He along with some other men had to go into hiding. Frank decided it was too dangerous to survive in enemy occupied territory, so he and one other (George Cornell), decided to head inland and try to escape to the southern unoccupied zone of France. Neither men had a map, but one did have a small compass in the button of his coat. They were helped by dozens of French civilians who provided food and helped direct them, or simply turned a blind eye to seeing them. At one point he took refuge in a barn in a village called Tilleul. An English speaking couple provided them with blue overalls of French farm workers.This disguise helped them travel more easily. 

However on 9 March when crossing a bridge over the river Cher to the unoccupied zone Frank and Cornell were captured and taken prisoner. They were sent first to Paris and then to Berlin for interrogation. Frank was then imprisoned as a POW in in Stalag 344 Lamsdorf, Upper Silesia, Poland. His POW number was 24706