Captain John J Rann

John Joseph Rann was born on the 24 November 1909 and came from Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire. He working as a waiter when war was declared.John married Ida Pearson on the 21 March 1940, in Horncastle, Lincolnshire.

He originally enlisted into the Foresters in 1941, and was granted a transfer to the Parachute Regiment on the 1 August 1942. This was announced in the London Gazette on the 23 March 1943. He had joined the 2nd Parachute Battalion on the 27 September 1941.

He attended the 2nd Advanced Parachute Course at RAF Ringway, 14 – 19 January 1941. As of the 31 March 1942 he was still listed with the 2nd Parachute Battalion, but by 30 June 1942, he was no longer a member.

John then joined the 1st Parachute Brigade in North Africa in 1943, and was posted to the 3rd Parachute Battalion on the 20 January 1943.

He was then posted to the 1st Parachute Battalion on the 18 May 1943. He took part in the parachute assault on Sicily, Operation ‘Fustian’, on the night of the 13 July 1943. He is mentioned in the Unit War Diary as being responsible for taking charge of the troops that had landed on the DZ and made it to the RV and leading them in the capture of the Bridge.

John also served with the 1st Parachute Battalion in Italy, September – November 1943. He was posted out of the 1st Parachute Battalion (Unit unknown) upon its return to the United Kingdom. It is not known what he did between this date and 1956.

In 1956 he helped to set up the Louth Detachment of the Army Cadet Force. He was by then living in Mablethorpe.

On the 26 November 1968, Lieutenant (A/Capt) JJ Rann, serving as an Army Cadet Officer in the Lincoln area, was awarded the Cadet Forces Medal.

On the 1 December 1974 Lieutenant JJ Rann resigned his commission in the Army Cadet Force and was granted the honorary rank of Captain.

John Joseph Rann died at Horncastle, Lincolnshire in April 1994.