Signalman James D A Gault

James Douglas Gault enlisted into The Royal Corps of Signals in January 1942. The son of Sqdn. Ldr. James Gault, RAF, and Rosina Mabel Gault, of Whitton, Middlesex.

Having volunteered for Airborne Forces, Signalman James Douglas Gault was posted to E-Section, No 2 Company, 1st Airborne Divisional Signals. This Section was attached to the 1st Airlanding Light Regiment, RA to provide communications between the Regiment and higher formations, such as the Divisional Headquarters.
Signalman Gault was part of the Commanding Officer’s (Lt-Col. Thompson) Rover (Jeep) Group, and was the driver. Another member of the signals crew was Sigmn. ‘Des’ Wiggins.

On Sunday, 17 September 1944, he boarded a Horsa glider at RAF Harwell, to take part in the 1st Lift of Operation ‘Market-Garden’. The glider was flown by glider pilots of A-Squadron, the Glider Pilot Regiment and carried a jeep, trailer and the CO as well as Sigmn. Wiggins and Sigmn. Gault.

They were bound for LZ ‘Z’ near Wolfheze in Holland, where they were amongst the first gliders to land and the moment of unloading was photographed by Sgt. Dennis Smith of the AFPU.

Sigmn. Gault was wounded and taken prisoner towards the end of the Battle of Arnhem. He is mentioned several times in the account of Sigmn. ‘Des’ Wiggins.

He was transported to a German controlled hospital at Lochem, where he died of his wounds on the 2nd October 1944. He was just 21 years of age when he was killed.

James was buried in Lochem New General Cemetery, Row 1, Grave 3.