Driver Leonard S Harper

Leonard Sidney Harper was born on the 26 June 1915, but was given up for adoption. He was fostered by an Elderly couple. He attended the Heathrow and Simpson Council school, and Harlington Senior school. He left school at the age of 14 and started work in the Aeolian Piano factory in Hayes, Middlesex. When this firm closed he signed an apprenticeship with Fairey Aviation Aircraft Company as a machinist and fitter. His great interest was football and he played for Harlington Rovers in the Hounslow and District League.

He was ‘called up’ on the 8 March 1943 and served in The Royal Army Service Corps.

Driver Harper was posted to 63 (Airborne) Composite Company, RASC, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Dvr Harper was one of four Despatchers on Dakota KG-374, of 271 Squadron RAF based at Down Ampney. The aircraft was on a mission to drop supplies from a height of 900 feet when it was hit by Flak, severely damaged and set on fire, despite this the pilot and crew continued the mission and successfully dropped their containers before crashing in flames at Reijerskamp, north of Wolfheze. Dvr Harper died on 19 September 1944, aged 29. Only one of the eight crew members survived, the casualties being given field burials beside the aircraft. The pilot, F/Lt David Lord was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

All of the casualties were re-interred to Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 22 August 1945.

He is buried in Oosterbeek CWGC Cemetery, 15. B. 15.

Profile photo taken of him in the late 1930’s wearing civilian clothes.