Private Peter C Denby-Dreyfuss

Private Peter Claude Denby-Dreyfuss, son of Paul J and Charlotte Dreyfuss, of Hendon, Middlesex, and was of German Jewish origin. He originally enlisted with the Pioneer Corps. He subsequently transferred to Airborne service and successfully completed Parachute Jump Course 87 in mid-October 1943, with the pass comments: "Average jumper, reliable, worked well" . He joined 7 Platoon, C Coy, 13th (South Lancs) Parachute Battalion and eventually took part in the D-Day landings to Normandy, during Op Overlord.

Pte Denby-Dreyfuss was killed at Le Mesnil, when 7 Platoon attacked a Self-propelled artillery gun (SPG) after putting down a mortar barrage.  The patrol was pinned down before finally reaching its objective, when it then withdrew.  The bodies of Privates Denby-Dreyfuss and Stanyon (also killed in the same attack) had been lying in disputed territory and were later recovered from the battlefield on the 11th July, by members of the R.A.M.C and C Company, 13th Battalion.

Private Denby-Dreyfuss died on 19 June 1944, aged 22 years old. He is now buried at Ranville War Cemetery, Normandy.

Cemetery photograph reproduced by kind permission of CGWC.