Douglas William Loudon, son of William and Clara Loudon, of Tollington Park, London, enlisted into The General Service Corps. He transferred to The Royal Artillery and volunteered for airborne forces.

Signalman Loudon successfully completed parachute training on course number 104 at RAF Ringway, his course report stated ‘keen, jumped to good standard’ and was posted to 6th (Airborne) Division Signals.

He took part in the 6th Airborne response to the German counter-offensive in the Ardennes during Winter 1944-5.

Sigmn Loudon was killed in action on 4 January 1945, aged 20, and was buried in Bure, Tellin, (Belgium) temporary burial ground. He was later reinterred in Hotton War Cemetery on 21 May 1947.