Anselm Snelham, son of G. and Winifrede Snelham, of Liverpool, enlisted into The Border Regiment, and volunteered for airborne forces.Private Snelham successfully completed parachute training on course 90 at RAF Ringway from 1 to 13 November 1943. His course report stated ‘Enthusiastic pupil who worked well, above average performer’. He was posted to A Company, 13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion.

He fought in the Normandy campaign and took part in the 6th Airborne Division response to the German counter-offensive in the Ardennes, during Winter 1944-5.

Pte Snelham was killed in action on 3 January 1945, aged 23, and was buried in Bure, Tellin, (Belgium) temporary burial ground. He was later reinterred in Hotton War Cemetery on 21 May 1947.

Profile photograph courtesy of Joanna Griffiths

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