Driver William J Chaplin

William John Chaplin was the son of Charles and Annie Chaplin and the husband of Dora Chaplin, of Ipswich, Suffolk. He enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps, and volunteered for airborne forces.

Driver Chaplin successfully completed Air Despatcher training and was posted to 63 (Airborne) Composite Company, Royal Army Service Corps, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Dvr Chaplin died of wounds on 11 November 1944, aged 35. He was on a re-supply mission when Stirling EF-248, was hit by Flak and crashed slightly to the west of Jachthuis Warnsborn, William was severely wounded and was taken to the Municipal Hospital at Arnhem by the Germans, and later moved to the Reserve Lazarett at Gronau, where he died. He was initially buried in the German Civil Cemetery and later re-interred to Rheinberg War Cemetery on 16 September 1947.

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