Driver Roy J Appleton

Driver Roy John Appleton was the son of Ernest Sidney and Dorothy Agnes Appleton, of Queenborough, Kent. He served with 398 (Airborne) Composite Company of the Royal Army Service Corps.

398 Divisional Airborne Composite Company RASC became an Airborne unit of 6th Airborne Division in late September 1943, when redesignated from the Royal Marine Divisional Composite Company RASC, located in Wimborne with an initial Field Strength of 11 Officers and 351 ORs.

The Coy was immediately thrust into training on glider transport and anti-aircraft firing in the Winter and early Spring of 1944. It was in this period the unit was designated as part of the Seaborne Echelon, undertaking vehicle and landing craft training and extensive work on Waterproofing of equipment up to May 1944.

Driver Appleton was part of the Coy element landed on Juno Beach, for Operation Overlord in June 1944, which subsequently set up a DMA. It came under incessant mortar and shellfire, causing multiple casualties.

Driver Appleton died on 13 June 1944, aged 20 years, and is now buried at Ranville War Cemetery, Normandy.