Private John S Collington

John Sidney Collington was the son of William and Florence Mary Collington, of Ilkeston, Derbyshire, he enlisted in the General Service Corps and volunteered for airborne forces.

Private Collington successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 79 from 23 August to 2 September 1943. His course report stated “Does well in any position in stick.” He was posted to B Company, 8th (Midlands) Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, and took part in Operations Overlord (‘D’ day landings), Ardenne (Battle of the Bulge) and Varsity (Rhine Crossing).

Pte Collington was killed in action on 24 March 1945, aged 21, 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 near Merr, Germany and was re-interred to Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany, on 18 March 1947.

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