NAME: John Timothy
ASN: 164812
PLACE OF BIRTH: England
DATE OF BIRTH: 05 Jul 1915
UNIT ASSIGNED: HQ 2/503rd Parachute Infatry Regiment (British Liaison Officer)
DATES OF SERVICE: ?? ??? 1940 - ?? ??? 1945
CAMPAIGNS: France, Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, Italy, Netherlands
AWARDS:British Parachutist Badge, US Army Parachutist Badge with combat jump star, Military Cross with two bars, 1939 - 1945 Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, Africa Star Medal, France and Germany Star Medal, Italy StarMedal
SUMMARY OF SERVICE:
Worked for Marks and Spencer
?? ??? 1940 - Enlisted in Grenadier Guards
?? Sep 1940 - B Company, 161 Infantry OCTU (Officer Cadet)
21 Dec 1940 - Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenat into the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
00 Sep 1941 - Joined the formation of the C Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion, 1st Parachute Brigade promoted to First Lieutenant
27 Feb 1942 - Participated in Operation BITING, serving as the commanding officer of Rodney Section, commonly refered to as the Bruneval Raid
Posted to A Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion, 1st Parachute Brigade
08 Sep 1942 - Completed the American Jump School making 5 jumps in Chilton-Foliat, England and was awarded the first U.S. Airborne Wings to a British Paratrooper.
00 Sep 1942 - Lt Timothy was recalled back to rejoin 2nd Para Battalion, 1st Para Bde in Bulford to prepare for a raid however it was soon cancelled and he returned to duty as Liaison Officer with the 2nd Bn 503rd PIR
08 Nov 1942 - Participated in Operation TORCH (VILLIAN) the airborne invasion of Oran, North Africa while attached to the 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment as Liaison Officer. Headquarters Plane 9 Seat 14. Records indicate this aircraft dropped its paratroopers. He reportedly wore an American jumpsuit and combat equipment with British rank. Possibly carried a British STEN gun see picture below.
Briefly guarded Tafaraoui Airfield with the 509th which was the initial staging airfield for 12th AF
Moved to Maison Blanche Airfield vicinity Algiers. Hangar was bombed damaging and destroying significant amount of 509th equipment. Lt John Timothy coordinated with the British Paras to obtain some needed supplies.
15 Nov 1942 - Participated in Operation TORCH the airborne invasion of Youks les Baines while attached to the 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment as Liaison Officer
French were not happy to see the British rank and realized he was a British Liaison Officer to the Americans. Lt John Timothy moved out with a platoon to keep out of sight of the French. They prepared a petrol dump for demolition and secured another landing strip. Lt. Timothy directed the placing of fuel drums on either side of the runway filled them with sand and strung out wire between them to deny the airfield use by the Germans.
509th consolidated to Tebessa and the Americans began to use the airfield as a base for Lightinings and Bostons.
Americans task with guarding the aristrip mistook Lt Col Jack Frosts aircraft for a enemy aircraft and fired on it. Lt Col Frost was had been on a reconnaissance flight and wanted to drop in and visit as a courtesy.
00 Dec 1942 - Completed assignment with 2nd Battalion 509th Parachute infantry Regiment
14 Jan 1943 - Rejoined the A Company, 2nd Parachute Battalion, 1st Parachute Brigade
Earned Military Cross for actions in Tunisia in Feb and Mar 1943
02 Oct 1943 - Particpated in Operation SIMCOL the repatriation of Allied Prisoners of War that were stuck behind enemy lines after the Italians had released them from Italian run POW Camps following the Italian Armistice
Earned Military Cross - Second Award for actions on Operation SIMCOL
01 Jul 1944 - Completed Company Commanders Course and promoted to Acting Major. Assigned to command R Company, 1st Parachute Battalion
17 Sep 1944 - Participated in Operation MARKET-GARDEN the airborne invasion of Arnhem
Earned Military Cross - Third Award for actions on Operation MARKET-GARDEN
19 Sep 1944- Captured by Germans and sent to various POW Camps
00 Jan 1945 - Arrived at Oflag VIIB in Eichstatt, Bavaria
00 Mar 1945 - Escaped with Major Ronnie Stark while on the march to another POW Camp. Managed to evade with the assistance of locals and made it to American lines
Honorably Discharged
Returned to work for Marks and Spencer
1972 - Retired
24 Oct 2011 - Passed away
For more details on Acting Major John Timothy MC
For more details on Acting Major John Timothy MC
Photo taken in England in 1942 while serving as British Liaison Officer to the 2nd Battalion 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Photo taken on 08 Nov 1942 on the Sebkra de Oran after several C-47s landed on the dry lake bed. In the center a Soldier poses with a British STEN gun. The Soldier is possibly Lieutenant Timothy. Aircrew is sitting on the ground in front of him.
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