Major Herbert F Cleaver

Herbert Francis Cleaver was the son of Henry John and Florence Mary Cleaver and husband of Anne Cleaver, of Woodford Green, Essex.

He volunteered for airborne forces at the formation of No 1 Parachute Brigade. After initial training at Hardwick Hall he was posted to 2nd Parachute Battalion. Captain Cleaver attended RAF Ringway for the second advanced parachute training course which ran from 14 to 19 January 1942. The course was attended by 208 men of the 2nd Battalion. The purpose of the advanced training was to raise the men's proficiency in quick exits in larger sticks with arms containers. In addition to ground instruction the men were required to perform a night balloon jump and two aircraft descents in sticks of 10 with containers (the maximum size that could jump from the converted Whitley bombers).

Major Cleaver went to North Africa on Operation Torch.

He was killed in action on 30 November, aged 33 years old and is buried at Massicault war Cemetery, Tunisa, in collective grave.

Grave photo via British 1st Airborne Operations 1941 – 1943 face-book site.