Sergeant Edward Wakefield

Sergeant Edward Wakefield, son of George and Ellen Mabel Wakefield, of Warrington, Lancashire, and husband of Minnie Wakefield, also of Warrington. He originally enlisted with the South Lancashire Regiment before transferring to Airborne service with 1st Wing, Glider Pilot Regiment.

Although unconfirmed, it is possible that he may taken part in the glider insertions to North West Europe in June 1944. He was amongst a party of Glider Pilots en-route to India in December 1944.

Sergeant Wakefield died on 5 December 1944, aged 23 years old when Dakota FL588 from 24 Squadron RAF Transport Command, based at RAF Hendon, crashed on a snowy ridge in Ariege, near Mijanes in the Pyrenees, Southern France. 23 Airmen were onboard, 20 of which belonged to the GPR. Fifteen other men onboard died as a result of the crash. He is now buried in the Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles.

Profile photo supplied by Mike Peters

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