A Paratroopers June 4th 1944 letter home

[BLR]

I found this letter on the Canadian Letters and Images Project website ( http://www.canadianletters.ca ) which was written by my Mothers cousin. I've read this letter before in a book but the website has a copy of the actual letter and a photo of my Mom's cousin which none of us had seen before.

Before you read further, I do have an aviation question related to this. Does anyone know which squadron would have flown the Battalion to their jump point?

Below is the brief write-up off the website.

Leslie Neufeld Abram was born in Nipawin, Saskatchewan in 1922. Neufeld was part of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, "C" Coy, some of the first Canadians to land in France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was killed early on the morning of the 6th in an assault on a concrete bunker. The collection consists of his last letter home written on June 4th, a photograph, and some poems written by Neufeld while in high school.

Here's the letter home, two days before he was killed in action. The Len he refers to is his brother.

June 4, 1944

Dear parents, brothers and sisters,

My time for writing is very limited. However, I must write a few words just to let you know how things are going.

First of all, thanks a million for the cigs and parcels and letters. Received your letter, Dad, just a day ago. By mistake I received Len’s cigs too.

Sorry Mum that I don’t have time to answer all your questions now.

Dad, the time has come for that long awaited day, the invasion of France. Yes I am in it. I’ll be in the first one hundred Canadians to land by parachute. We know our job well. We have been trained for all conditions and circumstances. We have a fair chance.

I am not certain but I expect Len will be coming in a few days later.

To go in as a paratrooper was entirely my choice. I am in no way connected to any medical work. This job is dangerous, very dangerous. If anything should happen to me, do not feel sad or burdened by it, but take the attitude of “He served his country to his utmost.”

With that spirit I am going into battle.

And let it be known that the Town of Nipawin did it’s share to win the war.

I have full expectations of returning and with God’s strength and guidance I’m sure He will see me thro’ all peril. My trust is in God.

Your loving son,
Leslie

It's great that Private Leslie Neufled is being remembered for his sacrifice 66 years later.

Brian.

[Second Air Force]

BLR,

First off I wish to send my thanks to your family for Private Neufeld's sacrifice on D-Day.

On to the question you had--it appears that his unit dropped from Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle transports as part of the Pathfinder Force. They were followed by Dakotas that dropped the majority of 6th Airborne Division troops. There's a pre-D-Day photo of some Albemarles toward the bottom of the page here: http://www.raf38group.org/albemarleindex

It's interesting that we spent the better part of today at Alliance Army Air Field in western Nebraska, the training station for the U.S. 507th Parachute Infantry Division that also jumped in the early morning of June 6.

Thanks for sharing the letter,
Scott

[patelie]

Brian

"C" Company, 1st canadian Bn, took off in 12 Albemarles from Harwell airfield at 22:30 on 5th June 1944. The rest of the batallion took off from Down Ampney at 23:25 in 38 dakotas.
the first mission of "C" company was to secure DZ "V" near varaville. Then after, demolish the bridge over The Divette river at varaville.
After these two mission accomplished they engaged a german strong point west of the town which had to be cleared in order to secure the drop zone.
By 10:30 the enemy pillbox had surrendered but the company sustained many casualties.

hope this information will be usefull

PS : Varaville and DZ"V" are around 10 kilometers from where I live.

[BLR]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the information, it's very helpful. Guess that would have been No. 295 Squadron. The Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle is a new one for me, never heard of it before. Sure is an odd looking plane, do any still exist?

patelie, do you know if the pillbox still there? It was on the grounds of a chateau that C Company was clearing out. My Mom's cousin was killed in the attack on the pillbox. Also on Google maps street view, there looks to be a monument just outside (west side) of Varaville with a Canadian and French flag, do you know what the monument is for?

Thanks again for the info.

Brian.

[patelie]

Brian
No pillbox at this place to my knowledge.
The monument is dedicated to the 1st Canadian parachute Bn. You can find a picture here http://www.6juin1944.com/espace/aerial/gps.php at varaville of course.