Lance Corporal John Gascoigne

John Gasciogne was born and lived in County Durham, he enlisted in the East Yorkshire Regiment (The Duke of York’s Own) and volunteered for Airborne forces.

Lance Corporal Gascoigne successfully completed parachute training at RAF Chaklala, India, on course number 29, and was posted to 7th Battalion, the Parachute Regiment and took part in Operation Overlord (Normandy).

L/Cpl Gascoigne was killed in action on 6 June 1944, aged 27, and was given a field burial in the grounds of Grangues Chateau and was re-interred to Ranville War Cemetery, Calvados, France, on 1 June 1945. Gascoigne was in a Stirling EJ116 from 620 Sqn based at RAF Fairford taking 19 Paratroopers to Normandy. It is believed the aircraft was hit by flak and crash landed south west of the Chateau Grangues which was well to the east of their intended DZ. The the passengers and crew, totalling 25 men were killed. 

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