Pte. Joseph A. Casson
British Army 9th Btn. Durham Light Infantry
from:Whitehaven
(d.27th Jun 1944)
Joseph Casson was born 14th July 1925 at Whitehaven, on the west coast of what was then Cumberland, on the edge of the English Lake District. Joseph was deemed to have been a man enlisted in the Territorial Army for the duration of the Emergency under the provisions of the National Services Acts 1939 to 1941, and formally enlisted on the 18th November 1943 for training. He was initially assigned to the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry on the 30th December 1943, eventually being transferred to the 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry on the 28th March 1944.
Records show that the 9th Battalion moved to Nightingale Wood Camp, near Southampton, on the 2nd June 1944 prior to embarking landing craft on the 5th June 1944, sailing down the Solent at 8:00pm and reaching open water at 8:30pm as part of the 50th Division. On D-Day, 6th June 1944 the 50th Division was designated to land on Gold Beach, in company with the 8th Armoured Brigade. The 151st Brigade, which included the 9th Battalion DLI, was part of the second wave, to land after the beach was secure and push inland. The Brigade was to move southwest from Gold Beach toward Route Nationale 13. The 151st Brigade came ashore as planned and got to the outskirts of Bayeux. During the following week, the Brigade advanced past Bayeux and on the 14th June 1944, the Brigade fought in Operation Perch against the Panzer Lehr Division. The Brigade made the initial assault on the villages of Lingvres and Les Verrires, which were captured by the 9th Battalion DLI. Later that day, the 151st Brigade and the 231st Brigade were cut off south of the villages, formed a brigade box, and repulsed heavy German counterattacks before withdrawing. The 9th Battalion DLI went on to enter Tilly-sur-Seulles on 20th June 1944. Private Joseph Casson is recorded as being wounded on the 21st June 1944. The 9th Battalion then went on to advance towards Juvigny on the 26th June 1944. Sadly, Joseph died from his wounds on the 27th June 1944. He was 18 years old. It is not clear if he died on the battlefield or at No.3 Casualty Clearing Station, near Jerusalem, as this is where he was initially buried. (Grid ref. Latitude: 49.21272 Longitude: -0.66129). Joseph's body was taken to Ryes Cemetery for final burial on 13th of November 1944, to rest at the side of his older brother, Marine Robert Casson, EX 3236, who was killed in action on D-Day.
