Sergeant John James Caves (7020145) served in the 1st Glider Pilot Regiment of the Army Air Corps during World War Two. He was the son of Jack Harry Caves and Ann Ray Caves of Lisburn, Co. Antrim.
Sergeant Caves took part in the airborne assault on D-Day. Part of the second wave of Operation Mallard, he would have landed in LZ “N” to the east of the Orne River near Ranville. The operation began around 2100hrs on 6th June 1944. Sappers cleared the area of obstacles allowing gliders to bring equipment and firepower to isolated troops.
Landing Zone “N” saw the arrival of 112 Horsa gliders and 30 Hamilcar gliders. Among the troops in the area were 6th Airlanding Brigade, 6th Airborne Division Armored Reconnaissance Regiment, and 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles.
The landing zone was a hive of activity and eleven of the thirty units deployed were quickly immobilised. Parachutes littered the field and caught in the caterpillar tracks of light tanks. Soon, the entire landing zone filled with gliders who struggled to find space to land.
Grave of Private John James Caves, Glider Pilot Regiment in the 1939-1945 Cemetery, Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany. Photo taken on 24th October 2017.
Operation Market Garden
Caves also took part in Operation Market Garden in September 1944. During the Battle of Arnhem, German troops captured John and his squadron listed him as a prisoner of war. He died in captivity on 31st March 1945 aged 22 years old, while a prisoner of war in Germany.
Private John James Caves’ grave is in Section 10, Row A, Plot 14 of the 1939-1945 War Cemetery, Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany. His headstone bears the inscription:
Always remembered by mother, father, brother & sisters. He died that we might live.