Death in Paradise start to portray first black paratrooper to drop behind enemy ...

The amazing untold story of the first black paratrooper to land in Normandy on D-Day is to be brought to life in a new film. 

Sergeant Sidney Cornell was a paratrooper in the 6th Airborne Division of the British Army during World War II and landed in occupied France on June 6 1944 as part of Operation Deadstick.

'Paratrooper' reveals how the first black soldier to drop behind enemy lines took two bullets and still ran messages between bases after radio communications failed.

One of the most dangerous assignments of the war, the job was even more perilous that day as it was unclear where Germans might by lying in wait.

Sergeant Sidney Cornell (middle row, centre) dropped behind enemy lines to relay messages between military bases and struggled on despite taking two bullets

Sergeant Sidney Cornell (middle row, centre) dropped behind enemy lines to relay messages between military bases and struggled on despite taking two bullets 

Sgt Cornell bravely spent all day weaving to and fro under heavy fire to penetrate enemy lines and deliver vital information to the front line. He had to kill at least one German soldier to survive during his missions that day.

During another operation a few weeks later he was again tasked with relaying messages and was shot twice by enemy machine gun fire, but struggled on and was still able to relay crucial communications despite injuries to his arm and carry on fighting.

He was wounded four times during operations but completed every mission and was never evacuated.

In another notable episode, he and his Major carried out a two man hunting mission where they tracked and killed snipers who had been picking off men over an orchard.

In recognition of his bravery and professionalism throughout the Normandy campaign, Cornell, was promoted from Private to Sergeant and awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

However, Sgt Cornell, from Portsmouth, Hampshire, sadly died at the age of 30, just two weeks before the end of the war during Operation Varsity.

Death in Paradise star Tobi Bakare (pictured) will portray the heroic paratrooper

Death in Paradise star Tobi Bakare (pictured) will portray the heroic paratrooper 

He and 25 other men were crossing a bridge in the German town of Neustadt when it was blown up by two Nazi youths thought to b around 15 years old.

Sgt Cornell was part of the 7th Parachutist Battalion and was one of just three blck soldiers among its 300 men.

He was well known and respected among the division after becoming the battalion boxing champion.

'Paratrooper' follows Sgt Cornell's story from a child

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