Sid Capon, soldier, 9th Parachute Battalion ©
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Read this introduction to Sid Capon's story, then listen to him describe his experiences, using the links at the foot of this page.

Sid Capon was a soldier in the 9th Parachute Battalion, which attacked the German gun battery at Merville. This attack preceded a main assault by Allied troops, and was deemed of strategic importance to the success of the landing.

British and Canadian parachuters were sent to Merville to neutralise the German battery. A total of 650 troops were supposed to take part in the operation, but only about 150 landed on the right spot and carried the mission on.

The mission was successful, but casualties were heavy. Sid Capon was a member of the 12 Platoon C Company, which neutralised the first of the four German guns at Merville.

Capon, then 20, was wounded in the following month, while he was still in France. He went to a military hospital in Britain, and was later sent to Belgium, Germany and India before the end of the war. He left the Army in 1946, after a stint in Palestine.

	'Training and secrecy' Play audio Read transcript

	'Inside the plane, over the channel' Play audio Read transcript

	'The battle' Play audio Read transcript

	'No grieving' Play audio Read transcript
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