John H Wyatt

John Henry Wyatt was the son of Edward and Edith Wyatt and the husband of Valerie Wyatt, of Devon.

He enlisted in the Royal Artillery and volunteered for airborne forces. Sergeant Wyatt successfully completed glider training and was posted to E Troop, 1 Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Sgt Wyatt was killed in action on 21 September 1944, aged 30, as a result of a tragic accident when a Glider Pilot, David Thompson, crossed, unseen, in front of his gun at the moment it fired, killing him instantly. The splinters from the exploding shell also caused the death of John Wyatt and two of his crew. He was given a field burial in an orchard west of the old church, Oosterbeek, and was re-interred to Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 6 September 1945.

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