Acting Captain Robert E V de Lautour

20 Jun 1944

  • Mentioned in Despatches medal

Acting Captain Robert Edward Vane de Lautour, son of Percival John Deck de Lautour and of Mabel Knight de Lautour (nee Gostling) and was born in Canada. He served with 22nd Independent Parachute Company after initially joining up with the Grenadier Guards.

Lt. de Lautour commanded one of the first drops by the the 22nd Independent Parachute Company on 5th June into DZ 'V'. His 'stick' included nine other parachutists (one of whom was L/Cpl Edward Glenn, who was Killed In Action on 7 June 1944).  He emplaned onboard a Albemarle of 295 Squadron at RAF Harwell at 23:30 on 5 June 1944. The stick was tasked with 'marking' the drop zone for the 1st Canadian and 9th Parachute Battalions at DZ "V", but all the radar and visual beacons were either lost or damaged. Nevertheless, they were successfully able to join up with Lieutenant-Colonel Terence Otway’s 9th Battalion, prior to the assault on the Merville Battery.
 
Acting Captain de Lautour died on 20 June 1944 aged 27 years old, from wounds sustained earlier in the Normandy conflict. He was awarded a posthumous Mention in Despatches on 22 March 1945, for actions in Normandy. He is now buried at Ranville War Cemetery, Normandy.

Headstone photograph taken by Harvey Grenville 2010.

Read More

Service History

Decorations

Robert E V de Lautour

Photos_1

  • Officers of 22nd Ind Para Coy synchronise their watches in front of an Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle.

    Officers of 22nd Ind Para Coy synchronise their watches in front of an Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle.

    1 Image Buy Prints

Latest Comments

Massimiliano Pagliaruli said:
I have seen Robert de Lautour's grave at Ranville cemetery. In the same cemetery there's also the grave of Lt. Den Brotheridge, probably the first allied soldier killed in Normandy.
Add your comment