William John Garth Statham enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps and volunteered for airborne forces.

Staff/Sergeant Statham successfully completed glider pilot training and was posted to D Squadron, The Glider Pilot Regiment, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

S/Sgt Statham died, age 23, in the POW Hospital at Bad Soden on 10 March 1945, and was first buried in the local POW cemetery, 15 kilometres west of Frankfurt and was re-interred to Durnbach War Cemetery, Durnbach War Cemetery, grave Ref:  3.  D.  8., on 26 September 1947.