Driver Richard C Newth

Richard Charles Newth was the son of Charles and Ada Newth, of Droylsden, Lancashire. He enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps and volunteered for airborne forces.

Driver Newth successfully completed his training and was posted to 223 Air Despatch Company, Royal Army Service Corps, and took part in Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Dvr Newth was in the crew of RAF 271 Squadron, Dakota FZ-626, based at Down Ampney. The aircraft was hit by Flak while on a re-supply mission and crashed, partly demolishing a house on Bakenbergseweg 262, Arnhem, at about 16.45 hours on 23 September. Three of the RAF crew and one of the four RASC crew died in the crash. The RAF Navigator and the other two despatchers became POWs, whilst Dvr Newth was taken to the Municipal Hospital at Arnhem, where he died of wounds on 23 September 1944, aged 35. He was buried by the Reverends Daniel McGowan and Alan Buchanan in the grounds of the hospital, and was re-interred to Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 1 November 1945.

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