The Brotheridge
Herbert Denham Brotheridge (also Den Brotheridge ; * 1915 in Smethwick , Staffordshire ; † June 6, 1944 in Bénouville , Normandy , France ) was a British lieutenant in World War II . He was the first Allied soldier to be killed by enemy fire on June 6, 1944 during Operation Tonga during D-Day .
Den Brotheridge was the son of Herbert Charles and Lilian Brotheridge from Smethwick , Staffordshire . He was married to Maggie Brotheridge, who was from the same place.
Brotheridge commanded a platoon of D Company of the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry of the British 6th Airborne Division , with which he fought for the Pegasus Bridge on June 6, 1944 . On the side of the bridge that was still in German hands, Brotheridge threw a hand grenade into the bunker there . The next moment Brotheridge was fatally wounded by a shot in the neck. He then died, the first Allied soldier, on the morning of June 6th, at the age of 29.
Brotheridge is buried in a military cemetery near Ranville , France.
Web links
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission ( English )
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Brotheridge, Den |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Brotheridge, Herbert Denham (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | British Lieutenant in World War II |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1915 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Smethwick , Staffordshire |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 6, 1944 |
| Place of death | near Bénouville , Normandy , France |