Corporal Fred W Dodds

Fred Whysall Dodds, son of Frank and Lilian Dodds, of Hartlepool and husband of Dorothy Dodds, of Durham, enlisted in the North Staffordshire Regiment and volunteered for airborne forces. His service records state that Fred was a bricklayer before joining the Army.

Corporal Dodds successfully completed his parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 35 from 19 October to 7 November 1942 and was posted to 3 Platoon, A Company, 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment.

His service records state that Fred was posted to Africa and Italy between the dates 29 November 1942 and 9 December 1943. They also state he was wounded 28 March 1943. He then took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Cpl Dodds was killed in action in the area of the Arnhem Rhine Bridge on 21 September 1944, aged 24. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Groesbeek Memorial to the missing.