A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties

Three: Lance-Corporal B. Langton, 13th Battalion, Parachute Regiment, killed in action during Operation Varsity, the Rhine Crossing, 24 March 1945

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Buckingham Palace enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mr. P. D. Langton, c/o Messrs Morgan Price Marley & Corby, 5 & 6 Great Winchester Street, London, EC2’, extremely fine (3) £140-180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties.

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Benjamin Langton served with the 13th (2/4th battalion, South Lancashire Regiment) Battalion, Parachute Regiment during the Second World War, and took part in Operation Varsity, the Rhine Crossing, on 24 March 1945. Operation Varsity was the biggest and most successful airborne operation in history, marking the beginning of the end for Germany as the allied airborne troops mounted the final barrier and crossed the Rhine. In total six Parachute Battalions, including Canadians of the 6th Airborne Division supported by glider troops from the Air Landing Brigade dropped on 24 March 1945 as a complete force, thus avoiding the mistakes made at Arnhem. Together with the US 17th Airborne Division the aim of the operation was to secure and deepen the bridgehead east of the Rhine and then advance across country to the Baltic Coast, a journey of 350 miles. The initial objectives were the high ground overlooking the crossing point at Diersfordter Wald and the road and rail bridges over the river Issel at Hamminkeln. Flying in very tight formation 540 American Dakota aircraft carried the twelve Parachute Battalions, five British, one Canadian and six American; they were closely followed by 1,300 gliders packed with troops. The Germans were expecting the invasion and the fighting on the Drop Zones was particularly heavy. By the end of the first day 1,078 men of the 6th Airborne Division had either been killed or wounded and fifty aircraft along with eleven gliders were shot down. Weather for the drop was perfect and almost everyone landed on their respective Drop Zones; however, some ended up in the trees and were cut down by German machine gun fire as they fought to free themselves. The 5th Parachute Brigade suffered heavily from casualties as mortar fire exploded around them during the drop. On the ground the enemy had occupied almost all of the nearby houses but by late afternoon, the Brigade’s three Parachute Battalions (7th, 12th and 13th) had cleared them all. Within twenty-four hours all objectives had been achieved as planned and the bridges over the river were secured. The village of Hamminkeln was captured and the Division was joined by ground troops of the 21st Army Group for the advance across Germany.

Langton was one of those killed that day, aged 20. He is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.