Private Raymond A Sutton

Private Raymond Alfred Sutton was the son of Fred and Maria Sutton and brother of Albert Sutton.The family lived in White Cottage, near Boscombe Church, Wiltshire. His father was a carter on Baments Farm nearby and before joining the Army, Ray Sutton also worked with horses. Sadly he grew up without his mother who died in child birth. His brother served in the Royal Navy and was also killed in action.

He enlisted into the Royal Artillery during World War II and  later volunteered for airborne forces, qualifying as a military parachutist on course 81 which ran at RAF Ringway from 6 to 16 September 1943. Once qualified Ray joined the 12th Parachute Battalion, The Parachute Regiment.

Ray Sutton parachuted with the battalion into enemy occupied France in the early hours of 6 June 1944 as part of Operation Overlord. Although dispersed on the drop the battalion captured Ranville and successfully defended it against German counterattacks. 

He was killed a few days later when the battalion attacked to capture Breville from the Germans.

Pte Sutton died on 12 June 1944, aged 20 years, and is now buried at Ranville War Cemetery.

Profile picture reproduced by kind permission of Bourne Valley Historical Society.