Private Emile S Corteil

Private Emile Servais Corteil was the son of Servais Corteil, and Jessie Amelia Corteil, of Watford, Hertfordshire. He enlisted with The Norfolk Regiment on 6 November 1942 and served with them before volunteering for the airborne forces.

He was successfully parachute jump trained at RAF Ringway on Course 79. This course ran between 23 August and 2 September 1943. Emile's instructor noted this about his performance on the course:

"Very good man. Performance good all round"

After completion of this training Emile served with A Coy, 9th (Essex) Parachute Battalion and took part in the D-Day landings to Normandy on 6 June 1944.

Private Corteil was the dog handler for A Coy, and looked after 'Para Dog' Glen who joined the Company to assist with guard and patrol duties. Both Emile and Glen are known to have completed his parachute descent. Emile was killed later on D-Day, and Glen died at his side.

Private Corteil died on 6 June 1944, aged 19 years old. He is now buried at Ranville War Cemetery, Normandy. Glen is buried with him.

Please see the article below for an extract from Pegasus Magazine about Emile and Glen the Para dog.

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