Driver Gordon Neale

Gordon Neale was the son of Sydney and Hilda Neale, of Branstone, Staffordshire. He enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps and volunteered for airborne forces.

Driver Neale successfully completed his training and was posted to 63 (Airborne) Composite Company, Royal Army Service Corps, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Dvr Neale was one of two air despatchers aboard RAF 196 Squadron, Stirling LJ-988, based at Keevil. The aircraft crashed in the grounds of the De Branding open air swimming pool, north of W. A. Scholtenhaan at Doorwerth at approximately 14.30 hours on 20 September 1944. All of the crew, with the exception of the second air despatcher who was wounded and captured, perished in the crash. Dvr Neale, aged 18, was recovered from the wreckage and buried in the Onder de Bomen General Cemetery at Renkum, and was re-interred to Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 24 August 1945.

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