Second World War - Lynsted Memorial Project
John Darrell JEFFREYS (of Doddington)
b. 1920 Lieutenant, Service Number 95277 Catania War Cemetery, Sicily |
Son of Captain Robin Edmund Jeffreys RN and Marjorie Ellenwood (née Hobbs) Jeffreys of Great Chesterford, Essex. John was the older brother of Edmund Henry who we also commemorate.
A career soldier, John's service in the Sicily campaign had been fairly quiet until 15 August when, during "Operation Husky" they landed in advance of the British 8th Army at Scaletta, about 15 miles south of Messina. Here they engaged the German rear-guard. On 16 August they were involved in house to house fighting in Scaletta itself.
It was on this day that John was killed in action and this was confirmed on 6 September 1943.
John is buried in Catania War Cemetery, Sicily and is commemorated along with his brother, mother and father on a plaque in Doddington Church.
