Trafford

Born during the December quarter 1922 in the Liverpool R.D. - ref: 8b/155,
the only son of Thomas & Elizabeth Leary (nee Girvan).

A Squire at St. Vincent's, Altrincham. and member of St. Joseph's (11th
Sale) Scout Troop.   Employed as a Salesman for the Betterware Brush Co,
Romford, Essex.

1939 National Registration - Thomas T. Leary - Married - born on the 24th
March 1891 - occ: Divisional Sales Manager Travelling.  Elizabeth E. Leary
- Married - born on the 3rd December 1893 - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.  
Plus two twin daughters - Ann G. and Elizabeth G. (b.1921).  There is one
redacted record at this address.   This will be Thomas Charles.

A Paratrooper. serving with the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion
that was formed from the 10th Battalion, The 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 the 6th 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and the eventual break-out to the Seine, before being withdrawn back to the
UK in August.

CWGC states that his parents lived at Ashton, Preston, Lancs.

M.I. "At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember
them".

Colonel Richard Geoffrey Pine-Coffin DSO & Bar, MC was appointed commanding
officer of the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion (formerly 10th
Battalion, The Somerset Light Infantry), which formed part of the 5th
Parachute Brigade, 6th Airborne Division.   With the 7th Battalion,
Pine-Coffin played an important role in the 6th Airborne Division's
airborne assault around the River Orne in the early hours of 6 June 1944.
His battalion was tasked with reinforcing Major John Howard's 181-strong
coup de main force, which had seized the Pegasus and Horsa Bridges. The
successful defence of these bridges was vital to 6th Airborne Division's
objective of securing the Allied eastern flank. The bridges were to be held
until relieved later on in the day following the Allied amphibious
landings.

Pine-Coffin dropped with his battalion at 00:50; they began to arrive at
the bridges at about 01:40, taking up positions in Bénouville and Le Port,
west of Caen Canal. With 7th Battalion's arrival, Pine-Coffin succeeded
Major Howard to command of the bridges' defence. The 5th Parachute
Brigade's position was precarious; 7th Battalion had been scattered and
could only muster about 40% of its strength, while the 12th Battalion was
in a similar situation at Ranville, east of the Orne. Pine-Coffin's
battalion came under sustained attack by the 716th Infantry Division and
elements of the 21st Panzer Division but they, with difficulty, held their
positions. The first relief for the beleaguered troops came at about 13:30,
when elements of Lord Lovat's 1st Special Service Brigade arrived from
Sword Beach and crossed the bridges to reinforce the Ranville positions.
The 7th Battalion's own relief would not begin until the arrival of the 3rd
Infantry Division's 2nd Royal Warwickshire Regiment at 21:15.