Private Billy Pettit

Billy Pettit, son of Arthur and Alice Pettit; husband of Freda Pettit, of Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury, Yorkshire, enlisted in The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and then volunteered for airborne forces.

Private Pettit successfully completed his parachute training at RAF Ringway on course 70 from 28 June to 9 July 1943, his course report stated "Good, excellent jumper". He was posted to Defence Platoon, HQ Company 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Pte Pettit was killed in action on 19 September 1944, aged 23, and is known to have been buried by the Dutch Red Cross in the grounds of the St. Elisabeth Hospital, Arnhem. His grave could not be found and he is commemorated on the Groesbeek Memorial to the missing.

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