Last 生き残るing hero from WWII Glider 操縦する 連隊 who dropped 連合した 軍隊／機動隊s behind enemy lines during D-Day and Sicily 侵略 dies 老年の 100

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The last 生き残るing hero from Britain's Second World War Glider 操縦する 連隊 who was a part of the four major 操作／手術s the 木造の gliders were used in has died 老年の 100.

Staff Sergeant Ralph Norbury flew 木造の gliders 深い behind enemy lines at the 侵略 of Sicily in July 1943.

Eleven months later on D-Day he became one of the first 連合した servicemen to step foot on Nazi-占領するd フラン after 上陸 ahead of main 侵略.

In September 1944 he fought in the 戦う／戦い of Arnhem in Holland and then took part in 操作／手術 Varsity over the Rhine in western Germany in March 1945.

Such was the enormous 死傷者 率 伴う／関わるd in going behind enemy lines, only six members of the Glider 操縦する 連隊 took part all four 操作／手術s.

Sgt Norbury passed away in hospital last week.

The last 生き残るing glider 操縦する to 参加する in all of the major 空輸の 操作／手術s of World War Two who has died 老年の 100. Staff Sergeant Ralph Norbury flew 木造の gliders 深い behind enemy lines at the 侵略 of Sicily in July 1943

In September 1944 he fought in the 戦う／戦い of Arnhem in Holland and then took part in 操作／手術 Varsity over the Rhine in western Germany in March 1945

His daughter Maggie, 67, said: 'My father didn't like to talk about the war but he was a true hero.

'He was very 肉親，親類d, very polite, so thoughtful - a real gentleman. It is remarkable to think what he did during the war. We are all so proud of him.'

Sgt Norbury, 初めは from Manchester, enlisted with the Lancashire 連隊 at the 手始め of the war before transferring to the Glider 操縦する 連隊.

During the war, gliders became an 極端に 効果的な 代案／選択肢 to パラシュート（で降下する） 減少（する）s, carrying up to 28 兵士s or jeeps, 大砲 and even 戦車／タンクs.

Sgt Norbury and his ilk were trained as 専門家 操縦するs and then on 上陸 成し遂げるd the 役割 of an infantry officer 有能な of 主要な the 空輸の 兵士s they had 輸送（する）d into 戦う／戦い.

For this, they became known as the 'total 兵士'.

His first 操作／手術 was the 侵略 of Sicily on July 9, 1943.

It was a 悲惨な 操作／手術 as over half the gliders landed in the sea and many 操縦するs 溺死するd.

Just 10 days after escaping Arnhem, he married wife Kath, a （手先の）技術s teacher, but the newlyweds were soon separated again as he returned to the heat of 戦う／戦い. 操作／手術 Varsity was 開始する，打ち上げるd on March 24, 1945, in 合同 with the Field 保安官 Bernard Montgomery orchestrated 操作／手術 Plunder

On D-Day, Sgt Norbury was part of the 6th 空輸の 分割 which landed 近づく to Ranville carrying elements of the 王室の Ulster ライフル銃／探して盗むs.

Their 職業 was to 保護する the left 側面に位置する of the 同盟（する）s arriving on Sword Beach.

Sgt Norbury had to make it 支援する several miles to the beach to get 支援する home to Britain so he could 飛行機で行く over again.

Three months later, during 操作／手術 Market Garden, Sgt Norbury was in a Horsa glider 牽引するd by a Dakota.

Sgt Norbury later 解任するd to a friend: 'We stayed first in the 支持を得ようと努めるd but later in 戦う／戦い had to find new cover in the houses just outside the 支持を得ようと努めるd.

'The Germans were so の近くに that we could 明確に be heard talking and digging in nearby in the 支持を得ようと努めるd. I could see men killed and 負傷させるd around me all the time.

'On the ninth day of the 操作／手術, we were told there would be a 撤退 across the river, with Canadian 軍隊／機動隊s in boats coming to 補助装置.

In later life, Sgt Norbury worked in the printmaking 産業 in Andover, Hampshire, and London. He retired in the 1980s and spent his final １０年間s in Tooting, south London

'All these days we had almost no food and 限られた／立憲的な water, and we were very short on 弾薬／武器.

'Making for the river with さまざまな groups of men, I heard a noise and there in 前線 of me was a small boat, I called out and was pulled 負かす／撃墜する into the boat and フェリー（で運ぶ）d to safety on the other 味方する of the river.'

Just 10 days after escaping Arnhem, he married wife Kath, a （手先の）技術s teacher, but the newlyweds were soon separated again as he returned to the heat of 戦う／戦い.

操作／手術 Varsity was 開始する，打ち上げるd on March 24, 1945, in 合同 with the Field 保安官 Bernard Montgomery orchestrated 操作／手術 Plunder.< /p>

The 空輸の 分割s, totalling 16,000, were dropped to the east of the Rhine to fight off 前進するing German 軍隊／機動隊s, enabling 200,000 men to cross over the 歴史的に important German river 障壁.

Within six weeks of the successful 操作／手術, Germany had 降伏するd and the war in Europe was over.

略奪する Ponsford, of the Glider 操縦する 連隊 Society, said: 'Ralph Norbury was the last of a small group of the World War Two glider 操縦するs who 生き残るd all the major 空輸の 操作／手術s which were pivotal turning points of the war.

'So many 溺死するd during the 悲惨な Sicily 操作／手術 or were killed when they were より数が多いd at Arnhem.

Sgt Norbury, whose wife died in 1989, leaves behind three children, John, Jane and Maggie, seven grandchildren and ten 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandchildren

'When people look 支援する on D-Day the first thought is 兵士s 嵐／襲撃するing the beaches but the 空輸の 分割s played a 決定的な 役割 in keeping the Germans at bay, which they also did during 操作／手術 Varsity enabling the successful Rhine crossing.

'It is a very poignant day and the end of a unique 世代 whose enormous 出資／貢献 to the war 成果／努力 should never be forgotten.'

Trevor Williams, of the Arnhem Boys, a World War Two 陳列する，発揮する team 保存するing the memory of those who fought in 操作／手術 Market Garden, said: 'The glider 操縦するs were a 堅い 産む／飼育する.

'Trained to 飛行機で行く that 抱擁する glider once they had got it on the ground they took on the 役割 of the ordinary 強襲，強姦 兵士.

'They were trained to 解雇する／砲火／射撃 all manner of 武器s, Bren gun, Sten gun or No.4 ライフル銃／探して盗む - and would fight 味方する by 味方する the very men they had flown to the 戦う／戦い.

'There are no 適する words that can 述べる that sort of bravery.

'Each and everyone that passes sees another British hero 出発／死 our company for a 井戸／弁護士席 earned 残り／休憩（する）.

'Lest we forget those that fought and those that died, for theirs was the glory.'

In later life, Sgt Norbury worked in the printmaking 産業 in Andover, Hampshire, and London. He retired in the 1980s and spent his final １０年間s in Tooting, south London.

Sgt Norbury, whose wife died in 1989, leaves behind three children, John, Jane and Maggie, seven grandchildren and ten 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandchildren.?