Private Joseph Donkin

Joseph Donkin was the son of George and Mary (Mattimore) Donkin, he enlisted in the General Service Corps and volunteered for airborne forces.

Private Donkin successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 111 from 10 to 17 April 1944. He was posted to A Company, 1 Platoon, 7th Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, and took part in Operation Overlord (‘D’ day landings), Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), and Operation Varsity (Rhine Crossing).

Pte Donkin 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 at Hamminkeln, Germany, and was re-interred to Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany, on 12 November 1946.

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