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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 227

Five: Captain J. W. Briscoe, 7th Light Parachute Regiment, Army Air Corps, later Army Cadet Force, who was evacuated from North-West Europe

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S. E. Asia 1945-46 (1794780 Pte. J. W. Briscoe. A.A.C.): Cadet Force Long Service, E.II.R. (Lt. J. W. Briscoe.), good very fine (5)

John William Briscoe originally enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1941 before transferring to the Army Air Corps on 8 March 1944.

The 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion was formed from the 10th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry in November 1942. It initially belonged to the 3rd Parachute Brigade but was transferred to the 5th Parachute Brigade as the 6th Airborne Division was formed in 1943.

The Battalion jumped into Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944 and relieved the glider-borne coup de main that had captured the bridges across the Orne River and Canal. It participated in the defensive battles around Breville and the eventual break-out to the Seine, before being withdrawn back home in August.

The Battalion saw action in the Ardennes during the winter and in March 1945 jumped under fire during the Rhine Crossing as part of Operation Varsity afterwards forming part of the 6th Airborne Division advance to the Baltic. The Battalion's 'B' Company suffered particularly heavy casualties just one month before of the end of the war in Europe at Wunstorf and Neustadt on 7-8 April 1945.

For further details on their service in this theatre, visit https://www.pegasusarchive.org/normandy/war_7thBatt.htm which was submitted by their CO, Lieutenant-Colonel Pine-Coffin.

Once the War in Europe ended the Battalion was moved to the Far East with the 5th Parachute Brigade between 1945-46, after which it was returned to the 6th Airborne Division in Palestine. The Battalion incorporated 17th Parachute Battalion in July 1946 but retained its name. When the 5th Brigade was disbanded its manpower was redistributed among the remainder of the Division and 7th Parachute Battalion was re-designated 3 Para in July 1948.

Briscoe was himself evacuated from North-West Europe in April 1945, either wounded or sick. Having served in South-East Asia, he was commissioned in March 1962, latterly serving with West Riding of Yorkshire Army Cadet Force.

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Sold for
£450

Starting price
£130