Sapper Eric C Booth

Eric Booth served in the Royal Engineers (RE) during World War II and  volunteered for airborne forces, qualifying as a military parachutist on course 58, which ran at RAF Ringway from 28 March to 11 April 1943.

He served with A Troop of 1st Parachute Squadron RE in Sicily, Italy and Arnhem.

At Arnhem, A Troop was attached to the 2nd Parachute Battalion and tasked with clearing any explosives from the bridge. In the absence of any support and supplies the 2nd Battalion's position in the bridge area eventually became untenable and Eric was captured with the remnants of the battalion while trying to withdraw to 1st Airborne Division's defensive pocket at Oosterbeek.

He was held as a prisoner of war in Germany until the camp was liberated in spring 1945.

Profile photograph courtesy of Marianne Lisney.