Private William P McCrudden

Private William Patrick McCrudden, son of Robert and Elizabeth McCrudden, of Kensington, London, was born in June 1921. After enlisting in the Army it is believed he took part in the amphibious assault of Diego Suarez, Madagascar, in May 1942.  He later volunteered for airborne forces in 1943.

Spit, also known as Billie, gained his nickname during his stay at Hardwick Hall while playing as part of a hockey team against ATS and VAD nurses. A nurse missed the ball and hit Pte McCrudden in the mouth, which left him 'spitting broken teeth for a fortnight!"

He attended Parachute Training Course Number 92 at RAF Ringway, which ran from 17 November to 3 December 1943.The course was attended by 242 trainees who between them completed 1,803 descents. 

A fellow trainee on this course later recalled: "The weather at Ringway during November 1943 was indeed very cold; fog and frost were constant companions. At night we slept with our socks on and for extra warmth we used our Greatcoats as a blanket. Needless to relate that the walls of our Nissen huts were saturated with condensation." 

Spit was initially posted to a Holding Company and later to 13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion.

He parachuted into Normandy with the 13th Battalion and took part in Operation Overlord in June 1944. The circumstances of his death are unclear and he may have died in captivity.

Private McCrudden died on 19 August 1944, aged 23 years old. He is now buried at Ranville War Cemetery, Normandy.

Cemetery photograph reproduced by kind permission of CWGC.