Sergeant Fred Stock

Fred Stock, son of Frederick and Edith E Stock, enlisted into The Buffs ( Royal East Kent Regiment) and then volunteered for the airborne forces.

Sergeant Stock undertook parachute training on course number 59 at RAF Ringway from 5 to 16 April 1943. He was a Corporal at the time and his course report states that he acted as stick leader and did the job very well, he was then posted to B Company 6th Battalion (10th Bn The Royal Welch Fusiliers) The Parachute Regiment.

He took part in the amphibious landings in Italy in September 1943, on board a mine layer, HMS Abdiel. Unfortunately, HMS Abdiel struck a mine in Taranto Harbour causing significant casualties and loss of life, including Sgt Stock.

Sgt Stock died at sea on 10 September 1943. Aged 22.

His body was recovered and buried in a common grave at Taranto. He was later identified and re-interred in Bari British Military Cemetery on 3 October 1944.

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