Private Ralph F Russell

Ralph Frederick Russell enlisted into the Dorsetshire Regiment and then was posted to The Royal Artillery. Private Russell volunteered for the airborne forces in late 1943.

He attended parachute training course 97 at RAF Ringway which ran from 3 January to 15 January 1944. The course reports states: ‘Pte Russell, Confidence, reliable- cheerful- above average.'

After initially being posted to the holding unit, he went to 2 Platoon, A Company, the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment.

Pte Russell jumped into Arnhem on Operation Market Garden on 17 September 1944, where he was wounded and taken a Prisoner of War. His POW number was 89294.

After a spell at the notorious clearing camp at Fallingbostel, he was sent to Stalag 12A at Limburg, Germany.