Signalman Ronald C Wiles

Ronald Wiles enlisted, as a boy soldier, into the Royal Tank Corps on the 12 October 1938. [1] Based on the history of his later service it is likely he was trained as a Wireless Operator.

He was serving with an Armoured Training Regiment when he answered the call by Winston Churchill for volunteers for Britain’s first ever Airborne Forces. This would be No 2 Commando, which was being raised in answer to the Prime Minister’s call for an Airborne Force of 5,000 men.

He was stilled only eighteen years of age, and was one of the first 60 volunteers for No 2 Commando. He was assigned to either ‘C’ or ‘D’ Troop, as these were the first to be formed, and did his parachute training in July and August 1940.

He was still with the unit when it was renamed the 11th Special Air Service Battalion, and therefore with it when it was converted to become the 1st Parachute battalion in August 1941. At that time he was placed with 6 Platoon, ‘S’ Company from his old ‘Commando’ Troop, but did not remain with them long, as he was moved to the Signals Platoon.

He did Advanced Parachute Course No 1 at RAF Ringway, 4 – 11 January 1942. [2]

He saw service throughout the North African campaign, from Operation ‘Torch’ in October 1942 to the end in May 1943, taking part in the parachute operation at Souk-el-Arba on the 16 November 1942.

By August 1943 he had been promoted to Lance Corporal and was still with the Signals Platoon, 1st Parachute Battalion, when they went to Italy in September 1943 on Operation ‘Slapstick’.

He was officially transferred to the Royal Corps of Signals on the 21 June 1944, and joined ‘J’ Section at Syston Old Hall in Lincolnshire. [1] It would appear he had to relinquish his rank and revert to that of Signalman when he transferred.

For the Arnhem operation he was a Wireless Operator in the Detachment attached to the 3rd Parachute Battalion and jumped successfully onto DZ ‘X’, near Renkum in Holland, on Sunday, 17 September 1944. He was later reported killed in action.

The official date of death is given as the 18 September, however, it is possible that he was taken prisoner and shot sometime between the 3 – 5 October 1944, along with Cpl WTM Bryning, RAMC also attached to the 3rd Parachute Battalion, as they were both found in an isolated grave by the side of the road – Beekhuizenseweg - in a wood at Velp (GR: 793812). This is close to the present day sports ground.

The son of Charles William and May Wiles, of Ospringe, Faversham, Kent, he was 22 years old when he was killed and now lies at rest in the Arnhem/Oosterbeek war Cemetery, 30. A. 6.

Profile picture of  LCpl RC Wiles 1 Para Bn. Sigs Pln. Italy. 1943. This photo was taken at Barletta, Italy in October 1943

NOTES:

[1] The Parachute Regiment, Transfer & Enlistment Book 06, page 26.

[2] Parachute Course Report RAF Ringway. January 1942.