Lance-Corporal James Warnock
Unit : No.16 Platoon, "D" Company, 5th (Scottish) Parachute Battalion
Army No. : 3130995
Awards : Military Medal
James Warnock joined the King's Own Scottish Borderers on the 1st May 1939. On volunteering for the Airborne Forces, he completed Parachute Course No.76 at RAF Ringway, 2nd to 13th August 1943. For his conduct in France, he was awarded the Military Medal. His citation reads:
After dropping some 25 km from his objective on a parachute operation in the South of France on 15th August 1944, Lance-Corporal Warnock joined a party of one staff colonel, one lieutenant and three sergeants, all American, and one private soldier from his own company. Whilst getting food at a farmhouse near Fayence the party was surprised by the approach of enemy in motor transport. Lance-Corporal Warnock and one American sergeant were posted in the attic with their rifles and they were largely instrumental in keeping the enemy at bay for over an hour until a relieving force arrived. The enemy during this time numbered about fifty men and they used two machine guns, one Breda and one MG 34. On relief, prisoners were taken and many enemy dead were found including victims of Lance-Corporal Warnock's shooting which had been extremely accurate. By his skill at arms and gallantry in action against such odds, Lance-Corporal Warnock was largely instrumental in saving the lives of his comrades. He showed great determination and a contempt for the strength of the enemy which proved a great inspiration to this small party.
Warnock was demobbed on the 8th July 1946.