Private Thomas Clare

Private Thomas Clare, son of Mr and Mrs S J Clare, of Slough, Buckinghamshire, enlisted with Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, eventually serving with the 2nd Battalion (who had been stationed in India on the North West Frontier at the start of the war), before being recalled to the UK in a Home and Coastal Defence role.
 
When 2nd Battalion joined the Airborne Forces as part of the new 1st Airlanding Brigade, 2nd Battalion became a gliderborne Airborne infantry unit. Gliders were seen as a necessary method of supporting Airborne operations, as they were able to carry additional infantry and heavy equipment to reinforce the Parachute Brigades. Private Tommy Clare served in "B" Company, attached to "D" Company of the 2nd Battalion Ox & Bucks Light Infantry.

He probably travelled with the Battalion to North Africa in May 1943 (in preparation for the intended Sicily invasion force). However, the battalion was subsequently detached, and started training for the planned invasion of North West Europe the following year as part of the redesignated 6th Airlanding Brigade of 6th Airborne Division. Elements of the Battalion (D Coy and parts of B Coy) formed a Coup de Main force, tasked with an attack on the bridges over the River Orne and adjacent Canal in Normandy (subsequently known as the attack on Pegasus Bridge).
 
Private Clare was part of the coup de main force on 6 June 1944, landing during the early hours in Glider No.6. He fought across Normandy and also in Belgium, during the winter of 1944-45, during the Ardennes offensive. Private Clare was killed during Operation Varsity, the Allied crossing of the Rhine. His glider took a direct hit from German anti-aircraft fire, killing all onboard.
 
Private Claire died on 24 March 1945, aged 30 years old. He is now buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Kleve in Germany.

Profile photo supplied by Harvey Grenville