Major Geoffrey Rothery

Geoffrey Rothery was  the son of William Umpleby Rothery and Clara Rothery and husband of Kathleen Rothery of Kirkburton, Yorkshire.

In September 1941 he was one of the earliest volunteers for airborne forces and after his selection training at Hardwick Hall he was posted to the 2nd Parachute Battalion and then sent on No 3 Parachute Course to RAF Ringway. This was the third course of training parachutists for the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 1st Parachute Brigade and it commenced on 5 December and was completed on 13 December 1941. The course comprised of 7 Officers and 235 men of the 2nd & 3rd battalion’s, under the overall command of Major G Rothery of the 3rd Battalion.

Major Rothery was killed in action on 10 March 1943 aged 39 years. He is buried in Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery in Tunisia. See photo of his headstone.

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