Parachute Regiment Veteran     Thomas Thresher, A Company, 13th Battalion

Thomas Thresher was a parachutist in "A" Company of the 13th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment who served in the campaign in Normandy, France, from June to August 1944. He was wounded in action and returned to England in late August, 1944. The following pictures and letters have been graciously lent by his family. We thank them for providing this insight into the history of the time, and encourage our readers to consider the sacrifices made by those like Thomas Thresher. (View Large Image) The 13th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment was part of the 5th Brigade of the 6th Airborne Division. When originally formed the unit was based on a battalion from the South Lancashire regiment, although Thomas Thresher likely volunteered from the Royal Tank Regiment. The 6th Airborne Division landed in Normandy France by parachute and glider on "D-Day" night of June 5-6, 1944. They were tasked with seizing or destroying key bridges on the Allies' left flank, and stopping the powerful German Panzer units in the area from attacking the invasion beaches. Thresher's unit, "A" Company of the 13th Battalion (under the command of Maj J. Cramphorn), landed just before 1am. They quickly set to work assisting a group of Royal Engineers at the landing zones. While under mortar and machinegun fire they helped to clear the landing zones of obstacles. These fields where the parachutistes landed had to be cleared of poles and wires set up by the German defenders, allowing space for the glider troops to land with their heavier equipment several hours later. Thresher and Paras at Salisbury Cathedral in 1943 (View Large Image) Once their initial tasks at the landing zone were completed, "A" Company was hurriedly sent to the town of Ranville where it joined the other companies of the 13th Battalion. Here they were put to work laying a minefield to the east of the village to help stop anticipated German counter-attacks. During the day of June 6th the 13th Battalion turned back attacks made by German armour and infantry, knocking out three German self-propelled guns. In the following days the Germans attempted several times to break into the battalion's position, but were turned back, losing more armour in the process. On June 10th the 13th Battalion took part in a very successful repulse of a large enemy attack, killing or capturing over 400 Germans. By the 17th of August the enemy began to hastily withdraw from Normandy, their lines broken by combined American, British, Canadian and Polish attacks. 13 Battalion took part in the pursuit of the defeated Germans, who often put in fierce rear-guard resistance. From August 22nd to 24th the battalion fought in the heavy action at Pont L'Eveque, and suffered a number of casualties. Thomas Thresher was wounded in action in late August, 1944. Near the same time as he was wounded, his brother-in-law, L/Sgt Charles McIlhargey, was killed in action. L/Sgt McIlhargey was also serving in the Parachute Regiment in Normandy, and is mentioned in the first of the letters below. Following are several of the notices the family received regarding Thomas Thresher's location and condition after being evacuated. Click on any of the images to see a larger version of these interesting documents. Notification of Arrival in UK (View Large Image) Notification (back) (View Large Image) Hospital Admission Card (View Large Image) Airborne Forces Fund (View Large Image) Hospital Transfer Notice (View Large Image) War Office Notification to Family (View Large Image) Following are several letters written from the front lines by Thomas Thresher addressed to his wife. He would have been on the front lines since June 6th. 7885923 L/CPL T. Thresher. "A" Co. 13th Battalion Parachute Regiment. BWEF 8th July 1944 My darling wife Thank you so much for the 3 letters of 29th, Ist and the 4th. I also had one from Mum and Olive so I had a nice lot of mall for two days. I did enjoy reading them dear, I am glad to hear you are getting on OK darling. The time has passed quickly, nearly three months now sweetheart. I bet you do get your leg pulled too. Only wishing I was there to have mine pulled as well darling, and as you said about coming home on the old milk tanker, Still if we get this job done we may be able to come home for good. Won't that be nice darling. I was thinking on you dear when you were having your teeth stopped. It is your day off again today sweetheart, so hoping you will find all down home in the best of health darling. I suppose Win is getting busy now dear. I haven't seen Charlie yet, he isn't so far away from me but trouble is getting there. Well darling the weather was nice to start off with this morning, but raining now. It's about 3 o/c, you know what I should like to he listening to now, don't you sweetheart. I'll bet you and Win are, I should have the old wireless going. I hope Olive will be able to get some for you dear. I don't think I told you, I was paid for my tape did I darling, 6d a day more, should have a nice bit to draw when we come back, as we get no pay out here. Food is still good sweetheart nearly the same every day, but must put up with that, got plenty of cigs as well dear. I shall he looking forward to having my tooth brush soon, I lost nearly all my kit darling when I jumped, the belt broke around me as I was getting out of the plane, too much weight, I could just carry it, so you can tell what it was like darling. Well I shall have to bring this to a close now my old darling sweetheart, so hoping this will find you still going on OK as it leaves me, alright at present. One thing, the photo you saw in the paper was not me dear as I am sure they haven't got anything to work fast enough for when we dive in our trenches darling but keep all of the most important ones dear. So look after yourself sweetheart, always thinking on you and hope to be seeing you soon dear. Sending all my Love & Kisses Yours forever Tom I Love you sweetheart and always will dear. Remember me to all at home dear xxxxxxxxxx wish these were real ones darling. 7885923 L/CPL T. Thresher. "A" Co. 13th Battalion Parachute Regiment. BLA 1st August 1944 My own darling wife Thank you so much for letters of 22nd, 24th and 26th darling, I had a good mall when I got back to camp, your three letters, one from Mum and one from Olive also the paper. So you can tell I was busy for a time. I was so pleased to get yours darling, for that was nearly a week without knowing how you were getting on love, but so glad to know the tablets are doing you good dear, it will make a lot of difference to you. Yes my sweetheart that was a bargain, it must be a big one, I shall have a lot of things to look at when I come home darling, when that will be I don't know dear. I am longing to see the things you are knitting darling I'll bet they do look nice, and am I proud to think it is for our own sweetheart, and I know you are dear. I don't blame you for going up Flo's for a few days darling, only wishing I was going to he with you love. You will get thought just as much of dear. (Have you heard from them lately darling remember me to them when you write, hope Ernie is OK, I have just missed Charlie again while I was away with my boil he came over to look for me, but when I got back yesterday they had moved. I should love to be home to eat some of those apples, (if I could get near them) darling, we shall be able to have some around here soon dear, they are getting nice and big. I should love to have seen you eating those cherry plums dear, I'll bet I shouldn't have had a look in, still I don't blame you darling. They say it never rains but what it pours, I have 3 tooth brushes now sweetheart, when I went to the rest camp I got round the store man and this is what I had out of him for 20 francs which is worth 2/-. 2 new shirts, 2 pairs of pants, 2 towels, 4 pairs of socks, shaving brush, 2 tooth brushes and housewife, so I didn't do so bad all being new kit as well dear. Yes my darling I must not leave it too late or poor old G will be put out. I suppose Stan will he up to see you one day, lucky devil. I wish your dream had come true darling, but you know what they say, reverse your dreams, well we were coming home but got it stopped, so I hope you will get a dream the other way round next time darling. Well my old darling sweetheart I think this is all for now so wishing you once more that you are fit and well and that you go on OK as this leaves me, alright at the time of writing sweetheart. I am always thinking on you dear and wonder what you are doing. Hope Doll is still home and that she is OK, so look after yourself love, don't work too hard dear, I will write as often as I can. Sending all my Love & Kisses, yours forever, Tom I Love you sweetheart & always will. xxxxxxxx wishing these were real ones darling. Shown here is the gravesite at the churchyard at Vatteville La Rue, France, of L/Sgt Charles Rutherford McIlhargey and his friend Pte R. Box, both of the Parachute Regiment. They were killed in action in late August 1944. (View Large Image)