Private Wilfred Pinkney

Wilfred Pinkney was the son of Thomas and Thirza Mary (Cruddas) Pinkney, of Dunston, County Durham, he originally enlisted and served in the Royal Navy before volunteering for airborne forces.

Private Pinkney successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 150B from 24 January to 8 February 1945. He was posted to 12th (10th Battalion the Green Howards [Yorkshire Regiment]) Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, and took part in Operation Varsity (Rhine Crossing).

Pte Pinkney was killed in action on 24 March 1945, aged 20, 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 Giesenhof, Germany and was re-interred to Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany, on 12 December 1946.

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