This is Private Daniel Roderick Hurley, my uncle, who died in Normandy on the 7th June 1944.
Family members will see the resemblance of his brothers in the 19-year-old's face.
Known as Roddy (his father - my grandfather's - first name was also Daniel) it seems that he died of his wounds on the 7th, so may have been fatally shot or had shrapnel injuries etc. at the assault on the Merville Battery on the 6th, or received his fatal injuries the following day at the village of Hauger where 9 Para was faced with some form of 'Ostruppen' (volunteers from Poland/Russia/Turkmenistan - details unknown at present).
If family members, researchers, veterans etc. want to be sent a high resolution jpeg by email please drop me a line.
A special thanks to Uncle Pat and Aunty Mary (recently decamped to the wilds of Lancashire!) who supplied the hard copy of this photo.
Please say a prayer for the repose of the soul of Roddy Hurley.
Gareth. What a lovely tribute you have done to your Late Uncle. Your Dad and his Brothers will be as I am very proud of you. xx
ReplyDeleteI have been speaking to your Uncle Peter and, he will definately be logging in to your blog.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tribute you have done for your late Uncle Roddy.
ReplyDeleteAll his Brothers will be so proud of him.
Hi Gareth,
ReplyDeleteI work for the Airborne Assault Museum, at IWM Duxford as a Research Assistant for our ParaData website.
We have a record for Pte DR Hurley, which we would be very glad to add to with the information you have discovered.
In current form, the entry is as follows:
http://www.paradata.org.uk/people/daniel-r-hurley
If you would like to help us improve our Airborne Roll of Honour, please get in touch by email: curator@paradata.org.uk
Best regards,
Tom Lusby
Research Assistant
01223 839909
My name is Stephen Smith. My grandfather, Thomas William Smith, was in the 9th Battalion A Company. He fell on D-Day and like many paratroopers would never make it home to family after the war. I would like to express my gratitude to you and your family for the tribute to your grandfather. I have several unit photographs which your grandfather may be in. Please drop me a line. temporaltechnician@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteDear Stephen,
ReplyDeletemany thanks for your comments on my blog.
If you can scan those pics and send them to me i'd be happy to put them online.
I haven't been researching 9 Para and their role in D-Day for long, but it does seem fascinating.
Did your grandfather die at Merville? My main aim at the moment is to try and find out where my uncle [not grandfather] was fatally wounded - at Merville Battery or the day after at Hauger [village].
Thanks,
Gareth