Corporal William H Toms

William Henry Toms was the son of CSM Robert Toms MC and Mary Toms, of Bury, Lancashire. He enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers, transferred to the Army Catering Corps, and volunteered for airborne forces.

Corporal Toms successfully completed his parachute training at RAF Ringway, on course number 94/95 from 6 to 20 December 1943, and was attached to H.Q., 1st Brigade, The Parachute Regiment, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Cpl Toms was killed in action on 21 September 1944, aged 24, and was buried by the Reverends Daniel McGowan and Alan Buchanan in the grounds of the Arnhem Municipal Hospital, and was re-interred to Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 22 August 1945.

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