Private Maurice L May

Maurice Langton May, son of Frederick and Maud May and husband of Kathleen May, of Camden Town, London, enlisted into The King's Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI) and later transferred to The Royal Artillery.

Private May volunteered for airborne forces in early 1943 and qualified as a military parachutist on course 61, which ran at RAF Ringway from 19 April to 3 May 1943. The course instructors’ notes record ‘Quiet type. Hard working and conscientious.’

He was post to 1 Platoon, 21st Independent Company, The Parachute Regiment. (21st Indep Coy).

Pte May saw active service in Sicily and Italy.

On 17th September 21st Indep Coy jumped at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden marking the DZs and LSs for the first lift. One platoon marked the abortive landing site for the Polish gliders, who landed amid the battle under heavy fire.

Pte May was Killed in Action on 21 September 1944, aged 29 years old and was given a field burial in the garden of the Dreijerheide House. On 20 December 1945 he finally laid to rest at Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery.