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Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity, the airbourne Allied invasion of Germany, crossing the River Rhine, was part of Operation Plunder and took place on the 24th of March 1945. The airbourne attacking force was comprised of the 6th Airborne Division, 13th US Airborne Division and17th US Airborne Division, under the XVIII US Airborne Corps, commanded by Major General Matthew B. Ridgway.
21st March 1945 Stand down
24th Mar 1945 Airbourne Landings
24th Mar 1945 In Action
24th Mar 1945 Assault
 The landing from Buffaloes of the 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment, who landed on the afternoon of 24th of March 1945, in support of No.1 S.S Commando Brigade at Wesel on the Rhine. The bridge seen in background is the smashed railway bridge at Wesel. IWM (BU 2334)
24th Mar 1945 Assault
24th March 1945 In Action
24th of March 1945 Move to East bank of the Rhine
24th Mar 1945 In Action
24th March 1945 Operation Varsity
24th of March 1945 Crossing the Rhine
24th March 1945 Assault Made
24th March 1945 Gliders
24th Mar 1945 Enemy Aircraft
24th March 1945 Forced landing at Eindhoven
24th of March 1945 Rhine crossing
24th March 1945 Operation Varsity
24th March 1945 Attack Made
24th Mar 1945 Report
24th March 1945 Preparations
24th March 1945 In action all day
24th March 1945 Gliders to the Rhine
24th March 1945 Pilot drops in with airborne troops
24th March 1945 Operation ‘VARSITY’
24th March 1945 Operation Varsity
25th Mar 1945 In Action
25th Mar 1945 Advance
 Sherman DD tank of 44th Royal Tank Regiment, 4th Armoured Brigade, passing carriers of the 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers east of the Rhine, 25th of March 1945. © IWM (BU 2486)
25th Mar 1945 Advance
25th of March 1945 Crossing the Rhine
25th Mar 1945 In Action
25th Mar 1945 New Positions
25th of March 1945 Crossing the Rhine
25th March 1945 In Action
25th March 1945 In Action
25th March 1945 Operation Varsity
25th March 1945 Close air support to the army
25th March 1945 On stand-by
26th Mar 1945 A Brief Rest
26th Mar 1945 Reliefs
26th Mar 1945 Reliefs Completed
26th Mar 1945 On the Move
26th Mar 1945 Preparations
26th Mar 1945 Objectives Taken
26th March 1945 Reliefs
26th of March 1945 Take over complete
26th March 1945 Reliefs
26th March 1945 Attack Made
26th March 1945 Enemy tanks and guns destroyed
26th March 1945 Record day for 184 Squadron
27th Mar 1945 Advance
28th of March 1945 Advance
28th March 1945 Advance
28th March 1945 Four ops
28th March 1945 Cab rank operations
29th Mar 1945 Orders
29th of March 1945 Rhine crossed
29th Mar 1945 Under Fire
29th Mar 1945 Recconaissance
29th of March 1945 Advance continued
29th Mar 1945 Advance
29th March 1945 Enemy Artillery
30th Mar 1945 Quiet
30th Mar 1945 Orders
30th Mar 1945 Mines
30th of March 1945 Coy Locations
30th Mar 1945 Guard Duty
30th March 1945 Attacks on Munster
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Those known to have fought in Operation Varsity during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Morris AM, DFC.. Donald Wilson. Lt Col.
- Smith Joseph Harold Albert. L/Cpl.
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
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Want to know more about Operation Varsity? There are:65 items tagged Operation Varsity available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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L/Cpl. Joseph Harold Albert "Johnny" Smith 8th Btn. Kings Liverpool Regiment      Joseph Smith, also known as Smudger or Johnny was my father, and I would like to hear from anyone that either knew him, or knows anyone that may have known him during WW2 or thereafter.
My late father Joseph was born on 7th of December 1922 in Everton, Merseyside. He enlisted in the Army in Liverpool on 25th of April 1941 at the age of 18, proudly following the family tradition set by his father Harold Sidney Smith, who was a WW1 veteran.
Joseph was first posted to the 70th Battalion The Kings Regiment Liverpool, a young soldiers territorial battalion. He was later posted to the Lancashire Fusiliers 7th of January 1943 for a short period before being transferred again to the 8th Irish Battalion The Kings Regiment Liverpool on 3rd of April 1943.
On D-Day Joseph landed with the 8th Irish on Juno Beach at Mike Green in support of Canadian forces, namely the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. His battalion formed part of the 7th Beach Group. He spent around 6 weeks at Juno Beach before the 8th Irish were disbanded, and he was subsequently transferred on to the 1st Battalion The Royal Ulster Rifles on 21st of July 1944 and joined the 1st RUR's at Le Mesnil, just east of the Pegasus Bridge.
Joseph continued his service with the 1st Royal Ulster Rifles in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. He took part in Operation Varsity, the allied airborne invasion of Germany, as part of the 6th Airlanding (Glider) Brigade, attached to the 6th Airborne division, landing on the 24th of March 1945 by glider at Hamminkeln. At this time Joseph was promoted to the rank on Lance Corporal.
After the war Joseph was deployed to Palestine on the 1st of October 1945 with the 1st RUR's still attached to the 6th Airborne Division. Joseph was also a member of the 1st RUR's football team.
For his service during WW2 Joseph was awarded the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, and the War Medal 1939-45, and I have claimed these medals from the MoD, and I am proud to display them.
During his service with the 1st RUR's Joseph became great friends with his comrade Sidney Everitt. During a period of leave, Sidney took Joseph home with him to the East End of London.
Sidney was married to Elizabeth Snell, and during this leave Joseph was introduced to Elizabeth's sister Rebecca (my mum). The rest is history and Joseph and Rebecca became a couple and later married in 1949.
Joseph's service in Palestine ended on 5th of September 1946 and he was subsequently then placed on reserve until 1954, the year I was born.
My dad died in 1963 when I was only 8 years old. I knew nothing about his Army service. I knew he had been in the Army and had seen some photos that my mum Rebecca had, but that's all.
I have carried out painstaking research to uncover his story and I am immensely proud of his contribution to the war. Everything I have related here has been a labour of love.
Again, I would love to hear from anyone who knew Joseph or knows anyone who may have known him. Maybe your father or grandfather were in Palestine or were in the same football team?
It's a long shot after so long.
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Lt Col. Donald Wilson Morris AM, DFC. 71st Sqdn. 434th TC Group Donald W. Morris was my father, he passed away in February 1999. I am currently going through his military records. He flew combat missions in Operation Neptune, Operation Market, Operation Red Ball, and Operation Varsity. He served as operations officer in the 73rd TC Squadron and then as commander of the 71st TC Squadron.
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