Ropsley Heath

Ropsley village in the summer of 1944 witnessed the sight of countless paratroopers dropping onto Ropsley Heath from American aircraft.

The Heath was a favourite practice drop zone for the British 1st Airborne Division, whose Divisional Headquarters was at Fulbeck under the command of Major General Roy Urquhart.  The paratroopers jumped from Douglas C-47 aircraft of US Troop Carrier Groups flying from giant airfields at North Witham, Saltby, Barkston Heath and Folkingham.

Practice was not without its dangers and fatal accidents sometimes occurred.  During one training jump at Ropsley Heath in July 1944, Driver John Beal of the Royal Army Service Corps was killed after his parachute canopy was collapsed by a falling supply container; he is buried in Yorktown (St Michael) Churchyard, Surrey.
  
In September 1944, the training turned to action when the paratroopers landed at Arnhem as part of Operation MARKET GARDEN, the world’s largest ever Airborne assault.

Ropsley Heath today is peaceful agricultural land with public footpaths stretching across it (marked in red on the map).  Please stay on these footpaths and respect the land as you walk in the footsteps of heroes.