Driver Ben Welham

Ben Welham was the son of Frederick and Mary Welham and the husband of Florence Welham, of Hintlesham. He enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps.

Driver Welham successfully completed his despatcher training, and was posted to 223 Air Despatch Company, Royal Army Service Corps and took part in operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Dvr Welham was killed in action on 21 September 1944, aged 38, when RAF 48 Squadron, Dakota KG-417, base Down Ampney, was hit by the load from another Dakota, lost a wing, and crashed north of Driel on the southern bank of the river Rhine. There were no survivors and all eight casualties were given a field burial by the side of the crashed plane and were re-interred to Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 21 April 1947.

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