Memorial

Bruneval Raid

Source: Copyright Mark Newton 7 May 2016

1/2

Current Location

On east facing wall of WW2 Control Tower, Thruxton Airport, Thruxton Circuit, Thruxton, Test Valley, Hampshire, SP11 8PW, England

SU 27485 45290

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Type of Memorial: Board / Plaque / Tablet
WMR Reference Number: 63811
Description: Wall mounted, portrait oriented hardwood backboard supporting a bronze plaque with explanatory inscriptions.
Inscription: TO ASSIST THE CONDUCT OF ALLIED AIR OPERATIONS / OVER GERMAN OCCUPIED EUROPE, IT WAS ESSENTIAL / TO GAIN ACCESS TO ELECTRONIC SECRETS OF THE / GERMAN RADAR, CODE NAMED 'FREYA'. ONE OF THESE / RADAR STATIONS WAS LOCATED AT BRUNEVAL, NEAR / LE HARVE, NORTHERN FRANCE. // ON THE NIGHT OF THE 27 TH FEBRUARY, 1942 / ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN MEN FROM 'B' AND 'C' / COMPANIES, 2 ND BATTALION, PARACHUTE REGIMENT / INCLUDING FLIGHT SERGEANT E.W.F.COX AND CAPTAIN / D VERNON, ROYAL ENGINEERS, COMMANDED BY MAJOR / JOHN FROST, BOARDED TWELVE R.A.F. WHITLEY BOMBERS / AND DEPARTED THRUXTON AIRFIELD TO DROP BY / PARACHUTE AND ATTACK THE RADAR STATION AT / BRUNEVAL. // FLG SGT. COX AND CAPTAIN VERNON WOULD REMOVE / KEY COMPONENTS FROM THE RADAR AND RETURN WITH / THEM TO ENGLAND FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION / DESPITE THE CONFUSION ATTENDANT UPON A NIGHT / PARACHUTE DROP AND DETERMINED GERMAN / RESISTANCE, THE ATTACK WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS // THE HUMAN COST WAS TWO PARACHUTE SOLDIERS / KILLED, SIX WOUNDED AND SIX MISSING. THIS RECORD / OF THE BRUNEVAL RAID IS PLACED HERE AT THRUXTON / AIRFIELD AS A REMINDER OF THEIR SACRIFICE AND / TESTIMONY TO A SINGULAR FEAT OF ARMS.

War: Second World War (1939-1945)
Number Commemorated: 3
Served: 3
Information shown: Regiments, rank, forename initials, forename, surname
Additional Information: Out of a total of 119 soldiers, 2 were killed and 6 missing.

Maker(s): John Green, Designer
Sponsor Type: private
Sponsored By: John Green
Additional Cost/Sponsorship Information: John Green designed and commissioned the memorial.
Maintenance History: Maintained by John Green who commissioned and paid for the memorial and its upkeep