Private Alfred W Penwill

Private Alfred William Penwill was the son of Samuel James Penwill and Florence Mary Penwill and husband of Eileen Marjorie Penwill, of Norwich.

Alf originally enlisted into the Royal Artillery and later volunteered for Airborne Forces.

After receiving preparatory training at Hardwick Hall, he attended Parachute Course 94/95 which ran at RAF Ringway from 6 to 20 December 1943. The course instructor’s notes record that he was “Cheerful and reliable, quick and alert. Parachuting good.”

After being posted to the Holding Company he was transferred to 10th Parachute Battalion and subsequently served with 12 Platoon, B Company. His Platoon Sergeant was Albert Spring.

He took part in Operation Market Garden, as part of 1st British Airborne Division’s airborne assault to capture the Rhine Crossings at Arnhem.

He took off from Spanhoe with other members of the platoon, including Sgt Spring, in a C-47 Dakota 43-16032, which was part of 315 Troop Carrier Group, 43 Troop Carrier Squadron.

The aircraft was shot down by flak in ‘De Maten’ municipality of Doodeward, The Netherlands at about 14:15 hours, and crashed near Opheusden. Pte Penwill was the only Paratrooper to be killed in this crash, the remainder of the stick were able to bale out safely, thanks to the bravery of the Pilot, James Spurrier, who was killed along with his radio operator.

Pte Alf Penwill died on 18 September 1944, aged 28 years. He was initially buried in or near Opheusden General Cemetery and was later buried at Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Arnhem.