I have enjoyed reading the threads on WWII, and I wonder if you know the first allied soldier killed in action on D Day on operatoin Tonga was a local lad from Smethwick.
Born in 1915,Lieutenant Herbert Denham Brotheridge was an officer in D Company,Oxfordshire and Buckinghanshire Light Infantry, 6th Airborne Division.
Den or Danny to his men was first class athlete it was predicted he would become a professional foolballer after the war, Den was at ease with his men, he would go their barracks at night sit with his lads and talk football bringing his boots and polish them as he talked while his batman lay on his bed.
Major John Howard had chosen him to lead No1 patoon, their mission was to secure Pegasus bridge, on landing he was to take his patoon knock out a pillbox cross the bridge ans secure the opposite bank.
In Exeter on the eve of the battle Den went drinking with his Sergeants and got drunk, he knew he would be the first man on the bridge, he was also bothered that his wife Margaret was expecting a baby in less than a month and would not be seeing them till the operation was over.
The glider came down almost perfectly Den and his lads ran for the bridge while crossing he pulled out a grenade and threw it at a michine gun as he did he was hit in the neck by a bullet he lay on the bridge mortally wounded, eventually he was taken to a first aid post were he died.
Den is buried in Ranville not in the Military Cemetery but in the churchyard,
If anybody intends going to Ranville go and spend a minute with Den our local HERO I am sure he would appreciate it.
Born in 1915,Lieutenant Herbert Denham Brotheridge was an officer in D Company,Oxfordshire and Buckinghanshire Light Infantry, 6th Airborne Division.
Den or Danny to his men was first class athlete it was predicted he would become a professional foolballer after the war, Den was at ease with his men, he would go their barracks at night sit with his lads and talk football bringing his boots and polish them as he talked while his batman lay on his bed.
Major John Howard had chosen him to lead No1 patoon, their mission was to secure Pegasus bridge, on landing he was to take his patoon knock out a pillbox cross the bridge ans secure the opposite bank.
In Exeter on the eve of the battle Den went drinking with his Sergeants and got drunk, he knew he would be the first man on the bridge, he was also bothered that his wife Margaret was expecting a baby in less than a month and would not be seeing them till the operation was over.
The glider came down almost perfectly Den and his lads ran for the bridge while crossing he pulled out a grenade and threw it at a michine gun as he did he was hit in the neck by a bullet he lay on the bridge mortally wounded, eventually he was taken to a first aid post were he died.
Den is buried in Ranville not in the Military Cemetery but in the churchyard,
If anybody intends going to Ranville go and spend a minute with Den our local HERO I am sure he would appreciate it.