Lewis Reginald Pattinson was the son of Ernest and Bessie Pattinson, of St Thomas’, Exeter, Devon. He enlisted into The Royal Army Service Corps and volunteered for airborne forces.

Sergeant Pattinson successfully completed his Glider Pilot training and was posted to A Squadron, 17 Flight, 1st Wing, The Glider Pilot Regiment, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Sgt Pattinson was killed in action on 19 September 1944, aged 21, with his pilot, S/Sgt Daniels, when they were strafed by a German ME109. They were given a field burial by the Flight Padre in a lawn in front of a house on the Oorsprong Estate, and were re-interred to Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 3 September 1945.