Private Charles J B Masters

Charles John Bertram Masters was the son of Harry Burt and Constance Emily Masters, of Ilchester, Somerset. He volunteered for Airborne Forces from the 1st Battalion The Duke Of Wellington’s Regiment in 1943.

Pte Masters completed Parachute Course 92, from 17 November to 3 December 1943, at RAF Ringway with the comments: “Very good parachutist, quiet and confident in aircraft”. At the completion of the course he was posted to the 12th (10th Battalion The Green Howards) Parachute Battalion.

On ‘D’ Day, 6 June 1944 he jumped onto Drop Zone ‘N’, just to the North of Ranville in Normandy and helped to defend the Southern part of the 6th (British) Airborne Division’s bridgehead from counter-attacks by the German 21st Panzer Division. On the 12th June he was involved in the attack to capture and secure the village of Breville. He was killed in this attack and is the only Parachute Regiment soldier to be buried in the Communal Cemetery at Breville.

Private Masters died on 12 June 1944, aged 21 years old. He is now buried at Breville Communal Cemetery, at Breville, near Caen, Normandy.