Private Gordon Eric Ainger, son of James and Florence Louise Ainger, of Harwich, Essex,  originally enlisted into the RAF before transferring to the Army.He qualified as a military parachutist on Course 78, which ran at RAF Ringway during August 1943, and was posted to 6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion.

Private Ainger died on 9 December 1943, aged 22 years old, during the Italian campaign and is now buried at Sangro River War Cemetery, near Taranto, Italy.