William Colquhoun was the son of Andrew and Janet Colquhoun, of Southall, Middlesex, he enlisted in the General Service Corps and volunteered for airborne forces.

Private Colquhoun successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 154B from 20 February to 6 March 1945. His course report stated “Keen and performed well.” He was posted to B Company, 13th (2/4 Battalion, The South Lancashire Regiment) Bn., the Parachute Regiment, and took part in Operation Varsity (Rhine Crossing).

Pte Colquhoun was killed in action on 24 March 1945, aged 18, whilst taking part in the daylight parachute drop into Germany as part of the Rhine Crossing during operation Varsity and was given a field burial at Giesenhof, Germany and was re-interred to Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany, on 12 December 1946.

If you are part of Pte Colquhoun’s family and would like to complete this biography, you can apply to the Curator to do so. To do this you will need to become a member of ParaData and select the 'friend or family member' option on the registration form.

If you would like to find out more about becoming a member please visit our registration page.

Members of ParaData can submit their material by clicking on the 'Add content to this article' button on the right.