Lieutenant Stanley J Jeavons

Stanley J Jeavons was one of three brothers, who all served during the 2nd World War. His twin Wilf Jeavons, was a Glider Pilot and flew in a Hamilcar, fought through the battle of Arnhem and was lost crossing the river when told to withdraw. His body was never found.

Bob Jeavons nephew of Stan Jeavons recalls:

Stan appears to have spoken to a journalist as one of a number of D-day veterans and below is the part of his story which seems to relate to the D-Day events:

Advance parties of two Para Brigades landed at 20 minutes after midnight on June 6. Lieutenant Stan Jeavons, of Bilston, serving with the Parachute Regiment's 13th Battalion, was among them. He made an 'uneventful' landing beside a railway line and rallied his platoon near the village of Ranville. As they gathered in the darkness, an uncomfortable truth dawned.

He smiles as he remembers clearly his first words to his lads: "Look around. There's no other buggers here but us."

He said: "It was terribly exciting to realise, deep down, that we were on our bloody own. We were so isolated I seriously thought the invasion had been cancelled."

Years later a senior officer told him that he and his little band of brothers were dropped as a diversion, designed to draw German forces away from the main glider and parachute landing zones. If so, they succeeded.

From the moment they hit the ground the 13th Battalion were under fire.

Through the next day they fought off three ferocious German attacks on Ranville. And as the Germans threw guns and tanks against the invasion, the lightly armed Paras fought almost to exhaustion. Lt Jeavons’ luck ran out a few weeks after D-Day.

As enemy shells rained down, his batman, Private Prew, was having a quick smoke in the bottom of the trench.

"The shelling was terrible and then suddenly – slap! – one landed straight on the trench. I was buried. They managed to dig out my head but the shelling was so bad they had to leave me."

For the next few minutes, he endured the hellish experience of being buried neck-deep in Normandy, bullets cracking around his exposed head, unable to move a limb or even draw his revolver.

His batman was buried alive and suffocated. Losing blood from leg wounds, Lt Jeavons slipped into a coma and awoke days later in a military hospital in Britain. His army days were over.

Stan was a good Athlete and Boxer and after the war coached Jack Holden the famous runner for the 1948 London Olympics. He became the welfare officer for Rubery Owen the motor parts manufacturer and worked for them until retirement.

Further research carried out by J Baker, Airborne Assault Curator:

Lt Jeavons, was  the 1st of the 13th Parachute Bn to jump into Normandy. He completed Para Course 87 at RAF Ringway in Oct 1943.  He commanded 5 Platoon, B Coy and they were tasked as the "Advance Platoon". Records state he was wounded on the 25 June 1944, with a note saying "shell shock". 

The 13th Para Bns plan for Normandy notes:

"PHASE I.

5 Pl under comd Lt. J.S. JEAVONS will drop from 3 ALBEMARLES on DZ "N" at P-5 hrs.  Secs will RV by sec sticks on the DZ and move as follows:- (a) One sec to rd junc 115749.  (b) One sec to X-rds 125739.  (c) Pl HQ and one sec to area X-rds in RANVILLE 114735.  These secs in all cases will prevent entry into the DZ area until relief in the case of, (a) by 12 Para Bn.  (b) by 'B' Coy.  (c) by A.tk pl.  Offensive action will be taken against the occupants of vehs approaching the DZ, if possible, silently.  No vehs will pass their rd blocks.  All telephone and telegraph wires will be cut at once.

In RANVILLE great care will be required.  It is NOT known whether or NOT RANVILLE is held.  The posn will be approached with great care and offensive action taken against all Germans found, silently if possible.  No attempt will be made to clear the village, but only to dominate the area of the X-rds by removal of all sentries and occupation of the vantage points."

The 13th Parachute Battalion’s war diary notes:

"25 June 1944

Place: Le Mesnil

0110 - 7 Para Bn firing - presumably being attacked.

0025 - Area still being shelled and mortared.  Our mortars engaged all known enemy locations.

0028 - "PETER" on fire!!  Lt Jeavons concussed and one OR killed by direct hit on slit trench.

0100 to 0600 - Shelling and mortaring going on on both sides.  Battle died down at 0600 hrs but odd shelling persisted all night."