Private Edwin J Wellstead

Edwin John Wellstead was the son of Walter David and Dora Mary Louisa (Grant) Wellstead, of East Stoke, Dorsetshire, he enlisted in the Hampshire Regiment and volunteered for airborne forces.

Private Wellstead successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 79 from 23 August to 2 September 1943. His course report stated “Nervous at first, jumped well”. He was posted to 9th Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, and took part in Operation Varsity (Rhine Crossing).

Pte Wellstead was killed in action on 24 March 1945, aged 21, whilst taking part in the daylight parachute drop into Germany as part of the Rhine Crossing during operation Varsity and was given a field burial near Merr, Germany and was re-interred to Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany, on 18 March 1947.

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