263458 2nd Lt. Phillip Hanbury "Pete" Barry British Army 2nd Btn. Parachute Regiment from:Burnham on Sea Phillip Barry, known as Pete, was born in Burnham on Sea in 1923, son of Dr James Barry who was the local GP for the Brent Knoll and East Brent area for many years. Philip followed in his father's footsteps and became our local GP when his father retired.
His Surgery was at the Hays in Brent Street, Brent Knoll where he lived with his wife Gillian and their four children.
He died peacefully but unexpectedly at his home in 2011 and was buried in St Michael's Church Brent Knoll.
Aged just 18 in 1941, Phillip became a Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment.
The Paras were an elite Infantry Regiment formed to be dropped behind enemy lines and trained to survive with mostly just the equipment they landed with and without backup.
The 2nd Battalion saw service in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and in Holland during the failed operation Market Garden at Arnhem.
Lt Barry and his No 9 platoon of C company were tasked with taking a railway bridge over the river. It was during this failed attempt to take a vital railway bridge near Arnhem against overwhelming odds against a German Panzer group and an SS division, that Lt Barry was wounded when the Germans blew the bridge up, and most of the platoon were taken prisoner.
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