James Joseph Benson, the son of James Joseph and Emma Benson, of Romford, Essex, initially joined The Royal Fusiliers in early 1941, and then later joined the Corps of Military Police.
He was serving in the Middle East when he volunteered for Airborne Forces and did Parachute Course K31 in Palestine, 5 to 16 April 1943.
James was a member of the Defence Platoon, 4th Parachute Brigade Headquarters on Operation ‘Slapstick’, which was the naval landing by the 1st Airborne Division at the Italian port of Taranto in September 1943.
He was killed in action on the road south of Castellaneta on the 11th September 1943. He was 20 years old when he was killed.
James now lies at rest in Bari War Cemetery, II. A. 22.
NOTE: From available Records it appears that the men of the Defence Platoon, 4th Parachute Brigade Headquarters were not shown as members of The Parachute Regiment until late 1944. Therefore Pte. Benson and his five comrades killed on the 11/09/1943 are only shown as attachments on the CWGC web-site.
Created with information kindly donated by R Hilton.
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