Sergeant Basil E Thompson

Basil Esmond Thompson was the son of George and Harriett Thompson, of Swaffham, Norfolk. He enlisted in the Royal Norfolk Regiment and volunteered for airborne forces.

Sergeant Thompson successfully completed his parachute training on course number 21/22, in June 1942, at RAF Ringway. Upon successful completion he was posted to 6 Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Sgt Thompson was wounded in the head whilst in the Arnhem Rhine bridge area on 18 September and fatally wounded two days later while crossing the street from the houses on Marktstraat, moving towards houses on Eusebiusbinnensingel. He was taken to the Municipal Hospital, Arnhem and died, aged 24, on 25 September 1944, and was given a field burial in the hospital grounds. He was reinterred to Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 24 August 1945.

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Profile photo courtesy of Phil Jennett.