Private John K Sanders

John Kershaw Sanders son of John and Beatrice Sanders of Weybridge Surrey, worked as a farm worker before he joined up. He enlisted into the Royal Armoured Corps in June 1944 when he was 18 years old and volunteered for airborne forces in the October of that year.

He qualified as a military parachutist on Couse 142 which ran at RAF Ringway from 13 to 25 November 1944. Course B142 consisted of five days of ground training followed by eight descents. These eight jumps were made in the following sequence:

Two descents from a balloon at 700ft.

One descent from a Whitley aircraft in pairs at 800ft .

One descent from a Whitley aircraft in fives at 700ft .

One descent from a Dakota aircraft in tens at 700ft .

One descent from a balloon at night at 700ft.

Two descents from a Dakota aircraft in eights with kitbags at 700ft .

The course instructors' notes record "Pte Sanders: Average performer, keen, slightly nervous”

Pte Sanders was posted to the 8th (Midlands) Parachute Battalion and saw active service during the Rhine Crossing before being demobbed after the war had finished in April 1946.