Private William Fern

William Fern was the son of Harold and Ada Fern, of Shipley, Yorkshire, and husband of Joyce Fern, also of Shipley. He enlisted into The West Yorkshire Regiment before volunteering for airborne forces.

Private Fern qualified as a military parachutist on course 99, which ran at RAF Ringway from 19 January to 3 February 1944. After initially being sent to the Airborne Forces Holding Unit, he was posted to the 3rd Parachute Battalion and took part in the Battle of Arnhem, during Op Market Garden.

Pte Fern died on 18 September 1944, aged 21 years old. He was given a field burial along the river bank near Onderlangs, before being reinterned at Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Arnhem.

Profile photo supplied by Harvey Grenville