Sapper James Frederick Pelling

Sapper James Frederick Pelling was a member of 9th Field Company RE who took part in Operations Ladbroke and Tonga.

Pelling originally enlisted in the Royal Engineers on July 14, 1937. He remustered as an Electrician 'Group "A" Class III" on February 3, 1939. He was originally posted to number 3 Platoon of the 9th Field Company RE on September 30, 1939, and served with the BEF in France, being evacuated from Dunkirk. On September 5, 1940 he was temporarily appointed Acting Lance Corporal, but relinquished this rank on September 14. He was injured in the forehead and left leg on May 17, 1941, possibly as a result of a parachuting accident. 

Pelling was reposted to the 9th on December 6, 1941. He served with the Company in Sicily (Operation Ladbroke) and Italy, where he was photographed at Taranto in November 1943. He was posted to home details on March 13, 1944, before being sent to the Army reserve on May 28, 1946. Largely owing to his injuries, he was discharged on November 31, 1947, having spent ten years with the Army. 

He later had a son named Michael.