Private Joseph McGivern

Joseph McGivern, son of Patrick and Catherine McGivern, of Dundalk, County Louth, Irish Republic, enlisted into General Service Corps, transferred to The Manchester Regiment and later volunteered for airborne forces.

Private McGivern successfully completed parachute training on course number 114 at RAF Ringway, from 1 to 12 May 1944. His course report stated ‘jumps without hesitation’ and was then posted to 12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion.

He took part in the 6th Airborne response to the German counter-offensive in the Ardennes during Winter 1944-5.

Pte McGivern was killed in action on 6 January 1945, aged 22, and was buried in Bure, Tellin, (Belgium) temporary burial ground. He was later reinterred in Hotton War Cemetery on 21 May 1947.

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