Staff Sergeant William C McLaren

William Colin McLaren was the son of John William and Maud McLaren, of Leeds, Yorkshire. He enlisted in the Royal Artillery and volunteered for Airborne forces.

Staff Sergeant McLaren successfully completed his Glider Pilot training and was posted to F Squadron, 2nd Wing, The Glider Pilot Regiment, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

S/Sgt McLaren was killed in action by mortar fire on 19 September 1944, aged 24, and was given a field burial in a mass grave 150 yards south of the Tafelberg Hotel, Oosterbeek. He was re-interred to Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 3 September 1945.

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