Ronald Frank Harris was born at North Weston, near Thame on 4th September 1913 to Frank Harris and Kate (née Shorter). He was educated at Shabbington School, Buckinghamshire and on leaving school was employed as a counter-hand by Mr G Bailey a grocer in the Buttermarket, Thame. On 3rd August 1940 he married Mabel Gladys Newitt at St Mary’s Church, Thame. They lived with her parents at 60 Wellington Street*.

Ronald joined the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry at the start of World War Two and served with the 2nd Battalion, initially on Home Defence duties. In early 1942 they became the 2nd (Airborne) Battalion and trained as glider- borne infantry and as such they remained in England in readiness for the invasion of mainland Europe.

Their mission on D-Day was to successfully take the bridge on the Caen Canal between Caen and Ouistrehan that became famous as “Pegasus Bridge”.

The Battalion returned to France in December 1944 as part of the defence against the German Ardennesoffensive. After a short spell of leave, Ronald returned to the Battalion for the airborne assault in crossing the Rhine in late March 1945. They advanced into Germany, where Ronald, age 31, died on 5th April 1945 of wounds received during fighting in villages around the town of Petershagen, near Hanover, Germany. He was initially buried in Friedewalde Evangelist churchyard near Minden, Germany before being reinterred in July 1947.

5385941 Lance Corporal Ronald Frank Harris, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, is buried in Hanover War Cemetery, Germany. He is remembered in Thame on St Mary’s Church Memorial Board and his name is to be added to Thame War Memorial.

* Note on address:
House numbering in Wellington Street was changed in the early 1970’s, at which time No.60 became no.10.