Frederick 'Fred' Rexstrew was the son of Henry and Alice Rexstrew and the husband of Gladys Rexstrew, of Surrey. John Justice recalls his late mother talked of Fred working for his Great Grandfather - Charles Crawford Doick - at his bakery in Wallington Surrey. His late mother remembered Fred as a fairly quiet man who enjoyed looking after the horses used for deliveries

He enlisted into the Royal Army Service Corps and volunteered for airborne forces.

Lance Corporal Rexstrew successfully completed his despatcher training and was posted to 253 (Airborne) Composite Company, Royal Army Service Corps and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

L/Cpl Rexstrew was one of two despatchers in the crew of RAF 190 Squadron, Stirling LJ-829, based at Fairford. The aircraft crashed between Van der Molenallee and W. A. Scholtenlaan, north west of Reigersberg, in Doorwerth at about 18.35 hours. There were no survivors. The nine crew members were given a field burial next to the aircraft.

L/Cpl Rexstrew was killed in action on 20 September, 1944, aged 30, and was re-interred to Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 30 October 1945.