Saturday 16 October 2010

Private Daniel Roderick Hurley, 9th Paras, D-Day

2009: Veterans of 9 Para greeted by a German Army band in Normandy.
My Uncle Roddy died the day after D-Day (7 June 1944), aged just 19 years old.

Here is the info from the Para Data site:

Private Daniel Roderick Hurley, son of Daniel Joseph and Ann Hurley, of Cardiff, served with 9th (Essex) Parachute Battalion. He took part in the D-Day landings to Normandy, during Op Overlord.
Private Hurley died on 7 June 1944, aged 19 years old. He is now buried at Ranville War Cemetery, Normandy.

 His military history is:

Army Roll of Honour: World War II supplied by Naval and Military Press Ltd

Name
Daniel R Hurley
Rank
Private
Service Number
14409489
Regiment
Parachute Regt (not otherwise specified)
Date of Death
7/6/44
Theatre of War
Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45


The 9th (Essex) Parachute Battalion was formed from the 10th Battalion The Essex Regiment in December 1942 and became part of the 3rd Parachute Brigade with the 6th Airborne Division in 1943. 

The Battalion was widely scattered during the D-Day drop on 6th June 1944 but, nevertheless, succeeded in storming the German gun battery at Merville, in an epic and costly action with a much diminished force. It fought around Breville and then participated in the break-out to the Seine in August. It fought in the Ardennes during the winter of 1944-5 and parachuted as part of the Rhine Crossings during Operation VARSITY in March 1945, subsequently advancing to the Baltic with the 3rd Parachute Brigade.

After the war it served in Palestine with the 6th Airborne Division and was amalgamated with the 8th Parachute Battalion when the 3rd Brigade was disbanded to form the 8th/9th Parachute Battalion in January 1948.

Commanding Officers:


1943-4        Lt Col M Lindsay
1944            Lt Col TCH Otway, DSO
1944-6        Lt Col N Crookenden, DSO
1946-7        Lt Col MAH Butler, DSO, MC
1947-8        Lt Col PC Hinde, DSO
1948            Lt Col JHM Hackett, DSO. (8th/9th Bn)
by Paradata Editor


Uncle Roddy's grave details are as follows:
07/06/44
14409489
Pte.
HURLEY
D R
Ranville
IA-M-3



 Links:
Para Data on Uncle Roddy
Daily Mail on 9th Paras Memorial
9th Para Roll of Honour

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