Private Thomas Pleavin

Thomas Pleavin was born in 1915 and was serving with The Royal Artillery when he volunteered for Airborne Forces in 1942.

After completing his selection course at Hardwick Hall he was sent on parachute course 28 at RAF Ringway, which ran from 21 to 28 September 1942. He was part of a re-enforcement group of 6 officers and 112 other ranks for the 1st Parachute Brigade and he was posted to the 3rd Parachute Battalion.

He served with 3rd Battalion in North Africa from November 1942 and fought with them in the campaign in Tunisia through to May 1943. He returned to the UK with the battalion and was billeted in Spalding where he would remain prior to being involved in Operation Market Garden.

Thomas was a member of 9 Platoon, C Company and under the command of Lieutenant Len Wright.

On Sunday 17 September 1944 he took off from Saltby Aerodrome and parachuted onto Drop Zone 'X' neer Heelsum in Holland. The 3rd Battalion advanced long the 'central' route, the Utrechtseweg, into Arnhem, code-named 'Tiger' route. The battalion were held up on the outskirts of Oosterbeek by strong enemy opposition and C Company were ordered by Brigadier Lathbury to divert to the left(North West) and get to the bridge at Arnhem to re-enforce the 2nd Parachute Battalion.

Thomas was taken prisoner on 20 September and sent to POW Camp Stalag XIIA in Germany. He was transferred from Stalag XIIA on 11 October 1944 to Stalag IVB and then transferred again from Stalag IVB to Stalag IVF.

Thomas died from Diphtheria on 8 January 1945.

He is now buried in the 1939-1945 Berlin War Cemetery, 10.Z.9.