Sergeant James W Denning

James from Worcester, was educated at Stanley-Road School. He worked for 'Archdales' before enlisting in 1939 with The Royal Engineers.

In 1940 he fought at Dunkirk.

After he volunteered for the airborne forces in served with HQ Coy 9 Field Company RE. He went on to take part in operations in Sicily and Italy before being involved with Operation Market Garden.

James conducted his parachute training at RAF Ringway, on course 26. This course started on 6 September 1942. This course included 2 descents from balloon, and 5 from aircraft. There were several serious injuries and 1 death was recorded on this training course.

During Operation Market Garden he was injured by a mortar blast which bent the rear plate of his MRC body armour flat.  Sgt Denning, however, still managed to return across the Rhine with the body armour, his webbing, beret when the order to withdraw was given.  He later wore his same smock and beret when he appeared as an extra in the film “A Bridge Too Far” in the late 1970s.

Those very same uniform items were then very kindly donated to the Airborne Assault Museum where they are proudly displayed as part of a 1st Airborne Division Arnhem Display.