Private Henry F Taplin

Private Henry Taplin was living in Country Antrim when he enlisted in the Royal Irish Fusiliers, and later volunteered for airborne forces during World War II.

He qualified as a military parachutist on course 77, which ran at RAF Ringway from 9 to 18 August 1943, and served in the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion. Taplin parachuted into France during the early hours of 6 June 1944, as part of the spearhead force for the Normandy landings, and was killed a few days later by sustained enemy shellfire on battalion positions at Le Hom. 

Pte Taplin died on 7 June 1944, aged 19 years, and is now buried in Ranville Cemetery, Normandy.

Photo courtesy of CWGC.