Driver John C Mason

John Charlton Mason was the son of James and Janet Mason, of Bellingham, Northumberland; and husband of Ethel V Mason, also of Bellingham.

He served with 398 (Airborne) Composite Company of the Royal Army Service Corps which took part in the Normandy landings in June 1944 and marked the start of the campaigns to liberate North West Europe from German occupation.

Drivers of 398 Company ferried supplies from the Beach Maintenance Area to the 6th Airborne Divisional Maintenance Area (DMA) which was situated about three quarters of a mile north of Ranville and three miles from the mouth of the River Orne. These supplies were vital to fighting troops and the DMA was incessantly attacked by mortar fire, shell fire and enemy aircraft.

Dvr Mason died on 13 June 1944, aged 38 years, and is now buried at Ranville War Cemetery, Calvodos.