Private James P Kearns

James Patrick Kearns was the son of George Michael and Mary Ann Josephine Kearns; husband of Lena May Kearns, of Dagenham, Essex., he enlisted into the General Service Corps and volunteered for airborne forces. James was born in Eire and married Lena in Romford, Essex, in May 1944.

Private Kearns successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 94/95 from 6 to 20 December 1943. His course report stated “Cheerful and confident, very good parachutist”. He was posted to 7th Bn. The Parachute Regiment, and took part in Operation Overlord (Normandy).

Pte Kearns died of wounds on 6 June 1944, aged 20, and was given a field burial at Banouville and was re-interred to Ranville War Cemetery, Calvados, France on 20 July 1945.

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