Lieutenant John M Bewley

Lieutenant John Michael Bewley was born in 1920. He began his military service as Second Lieutenant in the Devonshire Regiment in 1941, before transfer to the Royal Artillery later that year. He joined the Glider Pilot Regiment in late 1942 and by 1944, he served under Flt Commander M T Corrie, and took part in the Battle of Arnhem, during Op Market Garden.

Lt Bewley took off as part of the Second Lift (18 September 1944) bound for Landing Zone 'X', from R.A.F. Fairford, with his Second Pilot, Sgt Albert H Midgley (who later returned across the river after the operation). The glider (Chalk No 941) carried the Commander of Royal Army Service Corps, Lt Col Michael St John Packe and his small HQ Staff with a jeep and trailer. After a safe landing, both Lt Bewley and Sgt Midgley would have stayed with 1st Airborne Divisional Headquarters throughout the battle.

It is likely that Lt Bewley was wounded near the Hartenstein Hotel, HQ of 1st Airborne Division, during the battle and was taken prisoner when the Division withdrew on the night of 25-26 September 1944.

He later died of wounds in the 'Airborne' hospital at Apeldoorn, and was first buried in the General Cemetery 'Heidehof'. He was posthumously awarded a Mention In Despatches for his actions at Arnhem, in May 1945.

Lt Bewley died on 7 December 1944, and is now buried at Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Arnhem.