Private William T Giddings March 19th 1923 – February 17th 1945

William Thomas Giddings was born in London and resided in Kent prior to service in the Army during World War II.

He volunteered for airborne forces while serving in the Middle East, where he qualified as a military parachutist, and was posted to the 11th Parachute Battalion.

Pte Giddings took part in Operation Market Garden, as part of the divisional assault to capture the Rhine Crossings at Arnhem. His battalion, which formed part of the 4th Parachute Brigade, made an opposed jump under enemy fire on the second day of the operation on to Ginkle Heath, which was partly in German hands.

He was taken prisoner during the battle and is believed to have been held at Stalag 13B prior to transfer in December 1944 to Stalag 4B Muhlberg in Eastern Germany situated between Leipzig and Berlin. This was a large camp holding up to 16,000 men and by the end of war conditions were reported to be harsh with a lack of bunks, bedding, clothing and food.

Pte Giddings died from an allied aerial bombardment on 17 February 1945, aged 31 years, and is now buried at the Berlin 1939-45 Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery.

Cemetery photograph courtesy of CWGC.