L/ Cpl Deryk Francis Venables enlisted into the Royal Artilery and later volunteered for airborne forces during World War II.
After receiving preparatory training at Hardwick Hall, he assembled at RAF Ringway for parachute training course no 24 which ran from 24 to 30 August 1942. The course cadre mainly comprised of men from the 5th Parachute Battalion, which had recently been turned over to airborne duties, and reinforcements, like Deryk Venables, for No 1 Parachute Brigade. He completed the 7 descents, consisting of 2 from balloon and 5 from converted Whitley bombers, necessary to qualify.
After qualification he was posted to North Africa as a reinforcement and joined R Company, 1st Parachute Battalion in early 1943. He was taken as a prisoner of war while fighting with the battalion int he Tamera Valley during Operation Torch.
Profile under construction.
By ParaData Editor (HG)
