A D-Day Airborne Prisoner of War group awarded to Private H.C. Godbold, Northamptonshire Regiment later 7th Battalion, Parachute Regiment who having seen service during the operations in Waziristan against the Fakir of Ipi during 1936 to 1937, he would then go on to see service during the Second world War where he would see action in North Africa. As a Sergeant, 7th Battalion, Parachute Regiment he would be part of the airborne force that was dropped in Normandy on D-Day when he would be taken Prisoner of War and held in German captivity for the remainder of the war.
Group of 6: India General Service Medal 1936-1939. 1 Clasp: North West Frontier 1936-1937; (2033311 PTE. H.C. GODBOLD. NORTH’N R.) 1939-1945 Star; Africa Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal. Mounted loose for wear.
Condition: Mounted loose for wear, Good Very Fine
Along with Parachute Regiment cap badge.
Charles Henry Godbold was born on 20th June 1915 and was from Dagenham, Essex. Initially seeing service as a Private (No. 2033311) with the Northamptonshire Regiment during the operations in Waziristan against the Fakir of Ipi during 1936 to 1937, he would then go on to see service during the Second World War where he would see action in North Africa.
At some stage during the Second World War, Godbold transferred to the 7th Battalion, Parachute Regiment where he was serving as a Sergeant and it was with this unit that he landed on D-Day in Normandy Subsequently being taken Prisoner of War. Initially reported as missing, his status was updated in the War Office Casualty Branch list on 17th August 1944.
On 6 June 1944, the 7th Parachute Battalion landed in Normandy. Many men of the battalion were scattered or landed on the wrong drop zone. So badly scattered were they that, by 03:00, Lieutenant Colonel Pine-Coffin in command had only around forty percent of the battalion at the forming up point, although men continued to appear throughout the day. Relatively few of their supply containers had been found, meaning that they possessed few heavy weapons or radio sets. However, the battalion managed to rendezvous with the coup-de-main forces of the 2nd Battalion, Ox and Bucks Light Infantry at the Caen and Orne bridges. They then set up a defensive perimeter against German counter-attacks. The first German assault on the bridges came between 05:00 and 07:00 and consisted of isolated and often uncoordinated attacks by tanks, armoured cars and infantry, which grew in intensity throughout the day. The Luftwaffe attempted to destroy the Caen bridge with a 1,000 lb (450 kg) bomb, which failed to detonate, and two German Navy coastal craft, which attempted to attack the bridge, were also repelled. Despite the ferocity of the attacks, the battalion and the coup-de-main forces were able to hold the bridges until 19:00, when leading elements of the 3rd British Infantry Division arrived and began to relieve the battalion. By midnight, the battalion was being held in reserve behind the 12th Parachute Battalion occupying Le Bas de Ranville and the 13th Parachute Battalion holding Ranville.
Godbold would initially be held at Chartres France on 20th June 1944 until 6th July 1944, before being moved to Shallon Le Marne until 21st July 1944, then onward to Germany where he was held at Limberg until 14th August 1944 before seeing out the remainder of the war at Mulberg on Elbe, being liberated on 23rd April 1945.
On debrief, Godbold would report the use of Red Cross Parcels to get information from prisoners, including placing them in solitary confinement without food if they failed to confirm their units.
