William Henry Crane was born 19 June 1921 at 39 Bolckow Street, Eston, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. Son of William Henry Crane and Ethel Crane (Evison)
17 June 1941. Joined the Army. He then volunteered for the Airborne Forces from the 30 Foresters. He successfully passed parachute jump instruction at RAF Ringway on Course 37. This course ran between 12 and 27 November 1942. He then became a member of The 2nd Parachute Battalion.
29 March 1943. Wounded, North Africa (Tunisia). Battle of Kef el Debna.
15 September 1944. Grantham Lincolnshire. Briefing from Captain Panter OC - points to William being part of Support Company 2nd Parachute Battalion.
17 September 1944 - landed near Oosterbeek and marched into Arnhem along the Rhine River route as part of 2nd Parachute Battalion HQ Coy, Assault Pln.
21 September - He was captured and taken POW.
1 October 1944 - Prisoner of war. Stalag XI-B. Lower Saxony, in north-western Germany. POW Number 117851.
17 January 1945 - Prisoner of war. Stalag III-A. About 50 km (31 mi) south of Berlin
20 March 1945 - Prisoner of war. Stalag XI-A. About 90 km (56 mi) south-west of Berlin.
3 May 1945 - Camp liberated
October 1945 - marries Edna Dark in Middlesbrough
27 October 1969 - Dies at age 48 in Eston, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire
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